NEWCASTLE UNITED have confirmed that John Carver will continue as their head coach after a series of meetings at the club's Longbenton training ground this morning.

Carver's position was called into question in the wake of Saturday's calamitous 3-0 defeat at Leicester, which ended with the former Magpies assistant accusing Mike Williamson of deliberately getting himself sent off at the King Power Stadium.

Newcastle officials are understood to have sounded out Derby manager Steve McClaren in the last 24 hours, but the former Middlesbrough and England boss expressed a reluctance to be parachuted into St James' Park at such a late and pivotal stage of the season.

As a result, when managing director Lee Charnley met with Carver this morning, he assured him that he would remain in position for Newcastle's final three games of the season against West Brom, QPR and West Ham.

Charnley is also understood to have held talks with Williamson, who denied picking up a deliberate red card in a statement released yesterday.

A Newcastle statement released this afternoon said: "Following the result at Leicester City on Saturday, there has been two days of frank dialogue with John Carver and senior players.

"The outcome of those discussions is that the board, John Carver, his staff and players are absolutely focused on our current situation and the three hugely-important fixtures that remain this season, two of which are at St. James' Park.

"All parties accept responsibility for the current situation but are determined, together, to ensure this Club - your Club - retains its Premier League status.

"That is the only focus at this time."