Scotland coach reveals unresolved feud with Rangers icon + why bitter Newcastle United bust-up won't be fixed

A Scotland coach has opened up on a bitter feud with Graeme Souness that will not be resolves any time soon.

John Carver is now assistant boss to Steve Clarke at Hampden but he is strongly linked to Newcastle United, where he has been in various roles over multiple spells. Rangers legend Souness came to the club in 2004 after time managing the Ibrox club, Liverpool, Galatasaray, Blackburn Rovers and others.

It would be his final job as a manager. Carver was interim manager before he came into the role in 2004, guiding Newcastle United to a 3-0 win against Blackburn. Souness then came in, and Carver reveals the Rangers icon’s actions have left a rift never to be healed. He told the Scottish Sun: “Graeme Souness came into Newcastle, and we didn't see eye to eye. And 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 the Sunday, we're sitting in the dining room, and I'm sitting there with the staff, and 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'm 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 we, so they come and sat on the table with us, and we were just sitting having a conversation.

“Then I think it was Dean Saunders went, ‘gaffer remember when you stuck that flag on the half-way 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. Freddie Sheppard wants you to be the academy director. 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, 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.”