John Carver believes he is the "best coach in the Premier League" and insists he was not asked to resign his position at Newcastle United.
It has been a testing week for Carver, who saw Newcastle team slump to an eighth consecutive defeat in Saturday's 3-0 loss at Leicester City, leaving them just two points clear of the relegation zone.
Speculation subsequently mounted that Carver was set to leave St James' Park, but Newcastle released a statement saying discussions had taken place between all parties and the head coach would stay in charge.
And a bullish Carver declared ahead of Saturday's visit of West Brom: "I still think I'm the best coach in the Premier League. If I have the right tools I can still do the job.
"The statement went out and what the statement said was true. I don't want to go into detail, but I never offered to resign, I never offered to walk away, I never offered to step aside.
"Contrary to what was in media, on Twitter and other sources, once I'd had a conversation with [chief executive] Lee Charnley and knew my position, they never asked me to resign nothing came into the equation.
"It was clear in my head that I was in this for the next three games and ready to face the challenge."
Carver, who could welcome Papiss Cisse back to the first-team fold after he underwent treatment on a knee injury during a seven-match ban for spitting at Jonny Evans, also claimed he was unconcerned by speculation that Newcastle were interested in Derby County boss Steve McClaren.
"It's been going on since I took this position," he added. "I'm used to it now. I've not taken notice of it and I won't. I was down at Derby last week and had a great conversation with Steve, about social things.
"It was a real productive conversation. I've never looked at anyone coming in. I'm not interested in anything apart from this club, these three games are massive."
