Newcastle head coach John Carver to meet disgruntled fans

Carver to meet two fans at training ground on Friday

The Newcastle head coach John Carver is to meet two fans with whom he become involved in a heated exchange during Saturday’s Premier League defeat by Swansea.

Social media platforms were buzzing on Saturday evening amid claims that the 50-year-old had reacted in kind to abuse he received as the Magpies slipped to a seventh successive loss, although the club later moved to deny that he had used foul or abusive language and offered to see one of the angry supporters after the game.

Later in his press conference, Carver insisted he would happily sit down with anyone and try to explain to them what he is trying to do with the team as he attempts to halt an alarming slide, and fan Allen O’Connell revealed via his Twitter account on Tuesday evening that he and another supporter are to get together with Alan Pardew’s former assistant on Friday.

He tweeted: “I’ve been invited to the training ground on Friday to meet Carver and the players and watch a bit of training and sit down and talk to Carver, which is a massive thing to me even with everything going on at the club.

“So me and @thomas91c will be going along on Friday, which we are thankful for getting the chance to speak to staff and players and get the point across that me and @thomas91c and all you are making, and hopefully find out what Carver is trying to do.

“This is a massive opportunity and a chance of a lifetime for me as a fan, no matter what’s going on at the club, and it’s a chance to try and connect back with the club we all deep down love.”

The move comes as disgruntled fans protesting at the way the owner Mike Ashley is running the club – attendances for the last two games at St James’ Park have been significantly lower than usual with thousands of spectators responding to calls for a boycott.

In addition, the club have slipped to within five points of the relegation zone after a desperate run of results, and they face a trip to in-form Leicester at the weekend knowing things could get worse before they get better.

However, there is light at the end of the tunnel for Carver with Moussa Sissoko due to return from suspension on Saturday and Papiss Cissé a game behind him, while the midfielder Siem de Jong played 90 minutes for the Under-21s on Tuesday afternoon as he stepped up his return from an eight-month injury lay-off.


Guardian