JOHN CARVER will remain as Newcastle United’s head coach until the end of the season after a dramatic day that saw Steve McClaren rule out the possibility of taking over for the final three matches.

McClaren’s rejection, which was not the response to a formal job offer, has ruled him out of the running for a permanent position in the summer, even though he had been the strong favourite to take charge at St James’ Park.

As reported in yesterday’s Northern Echo, the former Middlesbrough and England boss had grave reservations about taking over for the final three games of a campaign that has rapidly descended into chaos.

Sources close to McClaren claim he did not believe he would have had sufficient time to make a positive impact, with Newcastle due to entertain West Brom on Saturday in a game that will be crucial to their hopes of surviving in the top-flight.

Last night, McClaren met with Derby officials and committed himself to at least another season at the Ipro Stadium, which means Newcastle will effectively have to start from scratch as they assess what to do in the summer.

The upshot of McClaren’s actions is that Carver will remain in his current position of interim head coach for the remaining games against West Brom, QPR and West Ham.

The former assistant met with Charnley at Newcastle’s Longbenton training ground yesterday morning, and the pair discussed the fall-out from Saturday’s chaotic 3-0 defeat at Leicester that saw the Magpies finish with nine men as Carver accused Mike Williamson of deliberately getting himself sent off.

Charnley also held face-to-face talks with Williamson yesterday, and the managing director is understood to have sat in on a team debriefing session that involved every senior member of the squad.

Carver promised to hold clear-the-air talks on Saturday night, and the hope is that a frank exchange of views will have enabled everyone to move on and begin their preparations for this weekend’s game with the Baggies.

An official club statement released yesterday 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.”

The use of the phrase ‘your club’ was immediately criticised by a number of supporters on social media, who regarded the line as a somewhat ham-fisted attempt to prevent a repeat of the fans’ protests that accompanied the recent home games against Tottenham and Swansea.

The final whistle at the King Power Stadium on Saturday heralded the unfurling of a giant banner that read “We don’t demand a team that wins, we demand a club that tries”, and Newcastle’s players were booed as they went over to the away end and jeered as they boarded the team coach after the game.

The mood in the stands has been mutinous for quite a while now, but while some players might be struggling to deal with the fans’ frustrations, Jonas Gutierrez insists the uncomfortable atmosphere is not affecting the way he is playing.

“I know what pressure is about,” said Gutierrez. “I came from Argentina. I am not under pressure from the fans. We understand their frustration, and what we have to do is clap them for their support, but there is nothing to worry about.

“They are frustrated and we know why - we have lost eight in a row. We understand. I came from Argentina, so you know if things are not going right.

“This is football. They are not happy, but after any game, any result, we have to clap them. We have to put 100 per cent into the next game, all the effort we have, and make them relieved.”

Saturday’s defeat dropped Newcastle to within two points of the relegation zone, but while the Magpies were still in 11th position as recently as mid-March, Gutierrez denies that the club’s players have sleepwalked their way into a relegation battle.

“We have been thinking that (they are in a relegation fight) for the last few weeks,” he said. “If you have 35 points and you do not get over the line that gives you safety, you are in a battle for survival.

“We are only a few points above (the relegation zone), but the good thing is that it is in our hands. We do not depend on other results. We have to be totally focused on the next game and West Brom are in the same fight as us so it is a massive game.”