ONE of the likelier candidates for Newcastle’s permanent head coach job has ruled himself out of the running after Ajax boss Frank de Boer insisted he would definitely be remaining at the Dutch club next season.

De Boer’s future has been the subject of considerable conjecture for a number of weeks now, and with Ajax currently 14 points behind Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven, a number of leading Dutch commentators were suggesting he could look to move elsewhere, with the Premier League mentioned as a possible destination.

Newcastle are understood to have included de Boer’s name on the long list of potential candidates they assembled in the immediate aftermath of Alan Pardew’s departure last December, and might well have looked to speak to the former Holland international this summer had he not made such an unequivocal statement yesterday.

Speaking after Ajax were drawn against Dnipro in the last 16 of the Europa League, de Boer, whose current Ajax contract is not due to expire until 2017, categorically ruled out the possibility of switching clubs this summer.

Meanwhile, Newcastle’s trip to Everton has been switched to Sunday, March 15 (4pm) because of the Merseyside club’s progress in the Europa League.