Newcastle took no action on John Carver future after defeat against Leicester
John Carver neither offered nor was asked to step down as Newcastle's head coach as a developing crisis on Tyneside came to a head.
The 50-year-old held no-holds-barred talks with managing director Lee Charnley and senior players on Monday before the club announced that he would remain in charge for the final three games of a season which could yet end in disaster.
He was widely expected to be sacked after defeat to Leicester. In a chaotic aftermath Carver had suggested Williamson had deliberately got himself sent off, then admitted: "There's a chance they (the players) are just not listening to me."
With speculation mounting, Newcastle were left in the unusual position of issuing a short statement in which they maintained that Carver would stay in charge for next week's game against West Brom.
The statement read: "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."