Get the latest NUFC transfer and takeover news straight to your inbox for FREE by signing up to our newsletter Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Newcastle United fans will know who the next head coach of the Magpies will be shortly after the last game of the season against West Ham on May 24.

With managing director Lee Charnley keen to kick on with the Magpies’ summer rebuild, the club are eager to avoid an additional complication of a protracted head coach search.

The Chronicle understands that John Carver and former England manager Steve McClaren are the only realistic contenders for the job at this moment in time.

Carver requires a convincing finish to the season in the last five games while McClaren is also in contention for the post – regardless of how Derby County’s season pans out.

With the Rams bound for the Championship play-offs, McClaren’s work with Derby could done after the May 25 play-off final at Wembley.

Should Derby fail to reach the showpiece final at Wembley it would leave the door open for McClaren earlier, with the semi-finals set to be wrapped up by May 16.

United will wait to see how Carver performs in the last few games before making a final decision – and in spite of talk Carver already has the job in the bag, nothing has been determined yet.

Carver has been involved in talks on new players, contract renewals and pre-season dates and opponents and Charnley has been respectful of the way he has handled what the club view as a difficult job. The team he inherited has been plagued with injuries and suspensions since Alan Pardew left in December.

(Image: Action Images / Ed Sykes)

Newcastle would also have to discuss compensation with Derby, with the Rams keen to hold on to McClaren. The former Middlesbrough boss has stayed tight-lipped on the situation but is still located in the North East from his days at the Riverside.

Carver is likely to be offered a role at the club no matter what happens next season. He is still contracted until 2020 along with Steve Stone and Andy Woodman.

And while he remains the unpopular choice for many supporters – with just two wins in 2015 – Charnley will make the final decision based on whether he feels that Carver can do a job next season or not when the squad has been improved.

Newcastle did not make an approach for Thomas Tuchel with the German coach joining Borussia Dortmund last weekend. But there is understood to be interest in the post from the Bundesliga.