NEWCASTLE, England (AP) Newcastle released John Carver from its coaching staff on Wednesday, paving the way for a new manager at the northeast club following a turbulent season in the English Premier League.
Former England manager Steve McClaren is the favorite to take charge this week.
Carver spent the second half of last season as Newcastle's caretaker manager after the departure of Alan Pardew, but won just three of 19 league games in a chaotic interim spell during which he accused one of his players of getting himself sent off deliberately.
The 50-year-old Carver hoped to stay at his hometown club, either as permanent manager or as assistant coach, the role he has held since 2010.
''After discussions with John, it was mutually agreed that in the best interests of the club moving forward, and to enable the new head coach to build his own coaching team, we would go our separate ways,'' Newcastle managing director Lee Charnley said.
''John loves Newcastle United, and no-one could have worked with more passion and enthusiasm than he did.''
Former England international Steve Stone has also left his role as a first-team coach.
McClaren, who was fired by second-tier Derby County last month, has been targeted by Newcastle for months. After McClaren was linked with Newcastle, Derby plummeted in the final months of the season from the top of the League Championship to missing out on the playoffs altogether.
McClaren spent 18 months as England manager in 2006-07, before he was fired for failing to qualify the team for the European Championship in 2008. In rebuilding his reputation, he coached FC Twente in the Netherlands in two spells, Wolfsburg in Germany, as well as Nottingham Forest and Derby in England's second tier.
Newcastle will be his most high-profile English club job, although he made his name in management in a five-year spell at Middlesbrough, which he guided to the League Cup title and the final of the UEFA Cup, the precursor to the Europa League.
McClaren was assistant coach to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United from 1999-2001.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has been heavily criticized by fans for failing to invest in the squad, and showing a lack of ambition in terms of winning trophies, but suggested at the end of last season that he will be prepared to release significant funds ahead of the new campaign.
Newcastle hasn't won a major trophy since 1955 but has a huge, loyal fanbase, and regularly attracts around 50,000 fans to its home games.
