Carver: Newcastle Role A Dream

31 December 2014, 15:06 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

John Carver has admitted he has ambitions to manage in his own right once again after being handed the Newcastle reins as Alan Pardew prepares to leave for Crystal Palace.

Pardew's assistant has been placed in temporary charge of the team amid speculation that he could be installed on a longer-term basis, either until the end end of the season or as a permanent replacement.

The 49-year-old insisted as met the media on Wednesday afternoon that he had not thought any further ahead than the Barclays Premier League clash with Burnley on New Year's Day and Sunday's FA Cup third round trip to Leicester.

However, having cut his teeth as a manager in his own right with Toronto in the MLS either side of number two roles with Plymouth, Leeds, Sheffield United and the Magpies, he is keen to return to the front line.

Carver, who will be assisted by first-team coach Steve Stone and football development manager Peter Beardsley, said:

"I think you always have those ambitions don't you? But you've got to wait for the right opportunity."

"Now the manager looks like going, what's my situation? Only time will tell."

"My head's going 100 miles an hour here, as you can imagine. I think that every coach who goes into football wants to be a manager, and there will be a day when I want to be a manager again, there's no doubt about that.''

Owner Mike Ashley and managing director Lee Charnley are currently considering their options while they await confirmation of Pardew's departure, although sources on Tyneside have already ruled out the likes of Tony Pulis, Steve Bruce, Tim Sherwood, Nigel Worthington and skipper Fabricio Coloccini.

It's understood the vacancy is for a head coach rather than a traditional manager with Charnley and chief scout Graham Carr remaining in charge of recruitment.

Carver, of course, has worked under that kind of system alongside Pardew, although he was playing a flat bat when asked about the rumours suggesting he could fill the vacancy.

He said:
``I have not read a newspaper or seen anything on the TV, and I am being serious about that because you don't get a chance. When you are in this situation, you have got to do things quickly, you have got to put all your energy into getting a result against Burnley, and that's all I have done.''

However, asked further if it was his dream job, Carver replied:
``Of course it is. I'm a local lad and it's a dream job for anybody, but the manager's still the manager at the moment.''