JOHN CARVER has called for Mike Ashley to clear up the uncertainty surrounding Newcastle United’s search for a new head coach before the squad return from a warm weather training camp in the Middle East.

The caretaker boss took his players – minus skipper Fabricio Coloccini who was given further time off for personal reasons - to Dubai yesterday in the hope the break will re-energise the group before they return to action on January 31.

Travelling to a warmer climate was booked in long before Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Southampton at St James’ Park, where Carver spoke afterwards of the need to bring some stability back to the club following Alan Pardew’s departure.

Carver said: “I think we have to. It could be the fan inside of me talking now. It will be three weeks on Monday since Alan Pardew was allowed to go and speak, so by the following Monday it will be a month.

“That’s a long time. I think that’s enough time to do what you need to do. The club have to do that. It’s in the best interests of the club, me, the fans, the players, the staff, everybody.

“We have not even discussed it, I have to be honest. That’s not even been in my head. I'm telling you, I've not had the conversation about it. They said there would be a conversation coming up pretty quickly, even if it is me who forced the conversation. As you can tell, I am getting a little bit frustrated now.”

Former Lyon boss Remi Garde remains the favourite for the job after talks with managing director Lee Charnley last weekend. Ex-Stuttgart chief Bruno Labbadia, Derby’s Steve McClaren and Mainz’s Thomas Tuchel are among the others who could be on Charnley’s shortlist.

Newcastle are thought to be close to making a firm decision, with the trip to Hull City on January 31 arrives just two days before the transfer window is due to close.

Carver had a brief chat with Charnley before boarding the flight to Dubai and expressed his fears that Newcastle’s season could continue to slide if a firm decision is not made soon.

“I’m as straight as they come and I am a little bit frustrated because it’s nothing that I didn’t expect,” said Carver. “From that first conversation, it was important that we didn’t let this situation drift. I’m frustrated because I think the guys are giving me everything - and I have to say that. But sometimes you need that extra bit if quality and luck.

“We cannot drift. This has happened once before, it might have been last season, so that can’t happen two years in a row. This is why we have to do something. It is very difficult because you can lead and guide these lads for so long, and the one thing I will do when I am here is that I’ll maintain the fact we cannot afford to let it drift."

Newcastle performed reasonably well against Southampton, but two goals from Eljero Elia left Carver still searching for his first win in his four matches as caretaker boss, despite Yoan Gouffran’s lucky equaliser shortly before half-time.

The reversal was also Newcastle’s sixth in eight matches in all competitions and that has seen them knocked out of both cups as well as drop back outside of the Premier League’s top ten.

Carver, unable to halt the slide which started before he took the reins, said: “I have given everything I can. The preparation has been right. The staff have been great behind the scenes. We have tried everything.

“I analyse and look at the goals we conceded. Paul Dummett doesn’t score own goals, but we go and draw 3-3 with Burnley. We go to Leicester and have a perfectly good goal disallowed, and we go out of the FA Cup.

“At Chelsea, we put in a good performance and in a minute of madness we switch off and the ball is in the back of the net. Then here, we should have had a penalty. We didn’t deserve to win because we didn’t have enough on target, but we did deserve something.”

Carver felt Emmanuel Riviere’s goalbound shot should have earned a spot-kick when it was prevented from testing Southampton keeper Fraser Forster by the arm of Jose Fonte.

He said: “I can’t understand it. I need someone to explain it to me. If it’s accidental, it’s when you are in a natural position and the ball hits you. But when you are in an unnatural position, and the ball hits you right on the palm, no matter how close or how far you are ...”