text: John Carver says he has the hardest job in football as head coach of Newcastle United with thousands of supporters planning to boycott Sunday's home match against Spurs. The 50-year-old has found himself the target of angry fans who are disillusioned with Mike Ashley’s running of the club. Results on the pitch – they have lost five on the spin - have not helped Carver’s cause, but the problems at Newcastle run deeper than a boss who has been left with a depleted and disinterested playing squad. John Carver says he has the hardest job in football as head coach of Newcastle United . United’s supporters will protest at what they see as a lack of investment and ambition from billionaire Ashley, especially as the Magpies have returned record profits of £18.7million and this week revealed they also have £34m sat in a bank account. Carver is the only public face of the club and is forced to answer – or deflect – questions about the hierarchy on a weekly basis, distracting from what is a difficult task in charge of a squad in desperate need of overhaul. But as reported by Sportsmail last month, senior sources within St James’ Park have indicated that Derby boss Steve McClaren will take over in the summer, regardless of whether or not the Rams are promoted from the Championship. On Tyneside, however, he will inherit what Carver believes is the toughest task in the land: ‘I think it is the hardest job in football, definitely,’ he said. Steve McClaren has already been tipped as a replacement for Carver should he face the Newcastle axe . ‘For me, this is the dream job, but you love it and hate it at the same time. ‘The hardest thing is taking the criticism off your own people. Some of it is deserved and some of it is not. ‘Sometimes you’re dealt the hand and you’ve got to get on with it and this is the hand I’ve been dealt. ‘When I took it on, if I hadn’t accepted then I would have been kicking myself. ‘And I’ve said this before, I genuinely believe that if I’ve got the right tools I can do the job. ‘But it is bitter sweet at the moment. This job is definitely a rollercoaster.’ Website AshleyOut.com are co-ordinating Sunday's planned boycott. They will protest outside of the Gallowgate End before kick-off and after the game. During the match they will go to Leazes Park behind the stadium. Carver, though, has urged fans to get behind the team. Fans are unhappy at how Newcastle are being run under Mike Ashley and have planned a boycott . ‘I would go to the match because I support the team,’ said Carver when asked if he would stay away as a supporter. ‘I think they (boycotters) do support the team but they have obviously got their own issues. I respect those issues. ‘I never thought I'd see this to be perfectly honest, especially in the North East of England because we love football. ‘So obviously something has triggered in their heads to make them not want to come, and I respect that.’ Carver has urged the fans to get behind the squad ahead of their match against Tottenham Hotspur .
target: John Carver has become the target of fans angry with how the club is run .
  His depleted and disinterested squad have lost five games in succession .
  Supporter sites have organised a boycott of the clash with Tottenham .
  Steve McClaren has already been tipped as a replacement for Carver .