IT is an indication of just how highly regarded Newcastle United's scouting system is that the man at the forefront of it has been handed an eight-year contract.

Such a deal will take Graham Carr, the experienced and much-travelled chief scout at the Tyneside club, beyond his 75th birthday, providing a fitting reward for his achievements since joining the club in February 2010.

But rather than focus on his own exceptional success rate since scouring Europe for the Magpies, Carr thinks it is time the man who pays his wages was recognised for his work.

Mike Ashley, Newcastle's owner, has had a rough ride in his attempts to make the North-East club a more financially sound model and there are certain issues - like the renaming of St James' Park - which still infuriate supporters.

But after sitting down with Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias in Mallorca on Tuesday to hear of the new terms he was being offered, Carr is convinced the sportswear tycoon is focused on the long term - and willing to spend when it makes sense.

"Mike is in this for the long haul and my contract shows that," Carr told The Northern Echo. "We are making progress, Mike is keen for that progress to continue. He is 100 per cent behind this club and he wants Newcastle to do well.

"He has had so many kicks in the teeth along the way. We all know we can't compete with the big boys financially, but the main thing is Mike Ashley is behind the club and willing to invest in it."

Carr's reputation had always been strong within football when he moved to Newcastle, his boyhood team after growing up in Northumberland. His scouting spells at Manchester City and Tottenham enjoyed plenty of success, but his name has become more prominent in the spotlight since Chris Hughton took him to the Magpies.

He prides himself on what he knows about the young players in Europe, illustrated by the way he has brought the likes of Cheik Tiote, Yohan Cabaye and Papiss Cisse to the region.

His success at Newcastle led to speculation surrounding his future. He didn't see, though, any reason to think about leaving.

Carr, who calls Northampton his home now, said: "I went to meet Mike and Derek and that was the first I knew about the contract. I thought we were just going out to discuss a few things, have a meeting because we regularly do. The contract was put on the table and it's just so pleasing.

"I really enjoy working at Newcastle United. It's a great club, I love working with the people I am working for and with. Being a part of it. I might not live in Newcastle now, but I'm from Newcastle, it's a club I love, so it's just been great to be part of it."

When Euro 2012 starts later today Carr will be in no rush to head out to watch the players in action. Instead he is planning a short holiday before going to Poland to watch the finals from the quarter-finals stage onwards.

Then he will be working closely with the club's management to press ahead with transfer targets, with France's Mathieu Debuchy among a list of targets.

He said: "It's a never-ending job. There's always the possibility of players becoming available, players having to be replaced, and you have to be ready to move.

"A lot of people don't see how demanding the job is. It could be that when most people are sat at home on a Saturday night watching the telly or having a meal that I'm in another country watching a game.

"I have put a lot of research in to the game, I like to think I know a lot about the young players coming through in different countries. That's why we have been looking at the European market, just like a lot of people know everything about the lower leagues in the English game.

"I've been doing it now for years and hopefully we can keep finding players to help Newcastle move forward."

A couple of players on the way out of Newcastle are Fraser Forster and Leon Best. Forster is due to finalise a move to Celtic soon, according to his agent, and Best is being lined up by Hoops boss Neil Lennon.