Blues boss Simpson: 'I've learned a lot about people this season...'

Paul Simpson says he “learned a lot” about certain people when the going got tough at Carlisle United last season.

And the Blues boss said some individuals faded into the background as United embarked on their struggle towards relegation in League One.

United’s boss, in post-match interviews following the last game of the season at Derby County, said he had learned a lot about himself and others throughout the hard 2023/24 season.

Asked by the News & Star to elaborate, Simpson said: “It's really difficult to say, to be honest with you, but I think you just learn a lot about people.

“I always think it's really easy to support a manager when you're winning, and you're going in play-off finals and you're winning at Wembley.

“I think a manager needs support in all times, in difficult times as well.

“There's been people who were right at the forefront when we were winning and celebrating who haven't been this season.”

Simpson said he did not want to go into more details, but did stress he had also received plenty of support from his backroom staff colleagues.

He suggested, though, that he was not entirely happy with the way United went into the last game of the season with so many players unavailable.

“I don't need to go into any more details. When you're losing games, being a manager's a lonely place,” he added.

“I'm really thankful that we've got a really good group of staff supporting us.

“I've learned about players when things are tough and you need them to roll their sleeves up…and, as I said, we only had 17 available for [Saturday].

“So there's been lots of learnings, but I don't want to go into details. It's something that I'll analyse, I'll review, I'll learn for the next time, and hopefully I'll be better.”