Derby County boss Steve McClaren has told officials at the Championship club that he will not leave for Newcastle United this summer, BBC Radio Derby has reported.
It had been suggested after Newcastle's embarrassing 3-0 Premier League defeat at Leicester, current boss John Carver would be removed from the position as head coach with McClaren replacing him for the last three games.
However, McClaren's committal to Derby is a clear statement of intent that he wants to take Derby back up to the Premier League next season after agonisingly missing out on the play-offs this season despite leading the table in February. They needed just a point from their final fixture of the season at home against Reading to secure a top six finish, but ended up losing the game 3-0.
It seems unlikely that John Carver will remain as coach at the end of this season. However, it now seems ever likely that he will see the season out, despite Newcastle being plunged into a battle in the bottom half of the table in which their Premier League status looks under threat, following eight consecutive league defeats.
Newcastle remain on the hunt for a new long-term managerial replacement following Alan Pardew's departure to take the Crystal Palace hot seat in January. Rejection from former Middlesborough boss McLaren will compound the pressure on unpopular owner Mike Ashley.
Newcastle face West Brom at St James' Park this Saturday, who will be buoyant following their shock victory at Old Trafford against Manchester United.