‘I wouldn’t shake his hand’ - John Carver rips into one former Newcastle United manager
Joh Carver has torn into Graeme Souness for how he handled his initial few days at Newcastle United.
In August 2004, a four-game winless run at the start of the season resulted in Sir Bobby Robson’s controversial sacking. Fans were divided on the legendary manager’s departure when Freddy Shepherd appointed Souness as his replacement.
The Liverpool legend had enjoyed reasonable success in his early managerial career, with silverware at Rangers, Liverpool, Galatasaray and Blackburn Rovers. However, his stint on Tyneside would prove disastrous, lasting just 18 months as Newcastle sat 15th in the Premier League.
Souness never managed again and later confessed to Newcastle being the worst experience of his career. Speaking to the Scottish Sun, former interim manager Carver, who served as Robson’s assistant before his exit, slammed the 71-year-old.
Carver’s career was in limbo and he felt as though Souness’ approach on arrival was disrespectful to the current staff. He said: “Graeme Souness came into Newcastle, and we didn't see eye to eye. All he had to do was embrace me, but he didn't. I took over the game against Blackburn, we beat them 3-0, he couldn't get involved because he was an ex-Blackburn manager.
“On Sunday, we're sitting in the dining room and I'm sitting there with the staff. He walked in with all his staff, Dean Saunders, Alan Murray, Phil Boersma and he's introducing them all to the players who were sitting in the dining room, and I was sitting on the table with my staff.
“This is the new assistant manager, this is the new first-team coach, without the conversation with me. So I knew he was in because we had the international break beforehand. So I just sat there, and so they came and sat on the table with us, and we were just sitting having a conversation.
“Then I think Dean Saunders went, ‘Gaffer remember when you stuck that flag on the halfway line at Galatasaray’, and I just looked. Because I am a straight talker, and I don't mess about, I looked at Graeme, and Graeme looked at me and he realised I wasn't very happy. He said, I think we need to have a chat, I went we do, let's go.
“So we went in his room, he said, you know how football is, John, da-da-da-da. He said I'm bringing my mates in. I went, 'You're bringing your mates in? Ok, that's fine, I'm ok with that. That's what you want to do.”
Carver returned to Newcastle six-and-a-half years later under Alan Pardew before a brief spell as caretaker boss in 2014-15. Now working as an assistant coach for Scotland, the Cruddas Park native revealed ex-owner Shepherd headhunted him to work as academy director.
“Freddy Shepherd wants you to be the academy director,” he added when discussing his chat with Souness. “I said, ‘Well, just tell Freddie I'm going to have a little break, a little holiday, and I'll think about it’.
“I then just walked out, went to my office, packed my bags and out I went. Now, if I'd seen him in a room, I would have to say I would not want to speak to him and I wouldn't shake his hand.
“That's how strongly I feel about it. And that's common knowledge to people who know me and know him. Which is sad, really, because he was a legend of a footballer, but I don't think his personal skills were great.”