Mike Williamson insists he’s “more than confident” that Carlisle United can turn things around and avoid relegation.

The Blues have 21 games left to save their EFL status.

Their predicament seven points adrift of League Two safety has now led one bookmaker to make United odds-on for the drop to the National League.

Yet head coach Williamson, after three straight defeats and one win in ten, remains adamant that Carlisle can escape.

United have brought in a host of new players this month and Williamson said every effort is being made to see a new-look team click.

“We’ve got a clean training week this week and that's what our focus is on,” said Williamson, who last night made Birmingham City's Josh Williams his tenth January signing.

“There was lots of positivity [in the 1-0 defeat to Bradford City].

“We've got to just make sure we do the basic things for the full 95 minutes, and then we've got a heavy fixture list coming up, so I'm more than confident that we can turn it around.”

Carlisle next head to Fleetwood Town on Saturday where a sell-out away end will see the Blues try to pick up their first points of 2025 and narrow the gap at the bottom.

Carlisle are seven points from safety and now odds-on with one bookmaker for relegation (Image: Ben Holmes)

Williamson, who could involve defender Paul Dummett in his squad for the first time, must endeavour to make Carlisle more threatening at the other end.

Part of their limitations against Bradford was the difficulty in getting wing-backs Kadeem Harris and Jordan Jones into enough attacking areas.

Williamson conceded this was the case and said: “Their service was limited. I think because they're two experienced players, they wanted to drop in to try and receive the ball.

“They are two unbelievable lads who want to take as much responsibility as they possibly can. So they were trying to get involved as much as they possibly could, but ultimately we didn't get them in the areas where we want them.”

Williamson, meanwhile, says long-term considerations at United are not on the agenda right now, with all the focus on turning their woes around this season.

A statement from United’s owners, the Piataks, last autumn said their intention for a particular style of football was based on a “lasting vision” rather than “short-term gains”.

Tom Piatak at the time added that this approach aimed at evolving the Blues was about “more than just a season or a few games”.

Since then United's predicament has grown ever more serious and Williamson, after last Saturday’s game, was asked by BBC Radio Cumbria if even relegation would be regarded as an “acceptable cost” for the long-term plan.

He replied: “I think the outcome of the [recent] fans’ forum was that this situation isn’t acceptable currently. We’re sat here still with a lot of points to play for.

“So for us, I’m not thinking about sitting here in the summer with that situation.

“I’m sitting here thinking how can we win the next game.

“Everyone was very vocal about taking ownership of it. It’s not acceptable. We definitely believe we’ve got the nucleus, with the backing and the players we’ve brought in, to turn this around.

“That’s where our energy is spent – focusing on turning this around.”

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