JOHN Carver's decision to snub Burnley and remain faithful to Plymouth Argyle made the Pilgrims' head coach a very happy man this week.

Paul Mariner was told that Burnley's new manager, Brian Laws, was keen to take Argyle's highly rated assistant head coach to Turf Moor on Tuesday, when the Pilgrims arrived on Tyneside to prepare for Wednesday's FA Cup third-round replay against Newcastle United.

After Plymouth's 3-0 defeat at St James' Park, Mariner confirmed that the Clarets were chasing Carver when he met the media. It did not take long for the story to have a happy ending, as far as Argyle were concerned, however.

Late on Wednesday night, Mariner revealed that Carver had declined Burnley's offer and was staying at Home Park. Yesterday, after Argyle's assistant head coach had been rewarded with an improved and extended contract which will tie him to the Pilgrims until the summer of 2012, the two men took a break from their preparations for today's Coca-Cola Championship home game against Crystal Palace to give their accounts of the week's events.

Mariner said: "I was shell-shocked and devastated when I found out that I might be losing John. The board [of directors] have been absolutely fantastic, and I was thrilled when it became apparent that John was going to stay.

"You have to appreciate the magnitude of John staying at this club," Argyle's head coach added. "You have to understand just where he stands in the coaching ranks in the world, not just in England. This guy could work wherever he wants to, but he has been loyal to this club."

Carver said: "I'm absolutely delighted to commit to the club for two and a half years. I was made to feel welcome from the first day I walked through the door. The club did things right, and impressed me from day one. That played a big part in my decision. I've got no doubts whatsoever that I've made the right decision.

"I think we can take this club in the right direction and I want to part of that, along with Paul [Mariner]. I owe him a lot. At the time I got the call [to join Mariner at Home Park], I was doing nothing. I was kicking my heels. When he called me, I couldn't wait to get down here.

"He has convinced me that it's right to stay here," Carver added. "I had the opportunity to leave and go to a club in the Premier League. That's where every coach, manager and player wants to be, but I decided against it because of the way I was treated when I first came through the door and because of Paul.

"I'm honest and straight, and I'm loyal to people. I felt as if I owed Paul something, because he got me here."

Carver revealed that he had been contacted about the possibility of a coaching job at Turf Moor by Brian Laws last weekend, before the former Sheffield Wednesday boss was hired by Burnley. Carver was at home on Tyneside at the time, and he did not tell Mariner about the job offer from the Premier League outfit until he could do so in person when the Pilgrims arrived in the north-east on Tuesday.

"I explained the situation to Paul at the first opportunity we had," Carver added. "At the time, I only had a three-and-a half-month contract [at Argyle] and it was the Premier League, so I had to listen to what Brian had told me, but I knew in my mind what I wanted to do. My priority was to come back down here and have a go at this."

Carver disclosed that a better deal for him at Home Park had been on the cards before the Clarets tried to poach him. "It wasn't a reaction from the club because of what Burnley had done," he said. "I think they had been planning something longer anyway, and I know that Paul was keen on getting something sorted out for me."

Carver also revealed that he had not been insulted by the length of his initial contract at Home Park. "I think it was wise of the club to give me that contract," he said. "They didn't know a great deal about me, and they didn't want to take any chances until they got me through the door to see what I could do."

Carver's career at Argyle started last month, when he was brought to Devon by Mariner. The Pilgrims' players have been impressed by the way the two men have gone about their work at Home Park.

"After I'd given my word that I was staying, it was so nice to have the team captain, Carl Fletcher, come to me to tell me that the lads are delighted about me staying," Carver said. "That, for me, meant more than anything."