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Carlisle United boss: 'We have to be up there. That's the message'
Paul Simpson says Carlisle United must be clear in their ambition to be among the promotion frontrunners in 2024/25.
The Blues manager admits that the extra financial clout provided by the Piataks gives United a real opportunity in League Two.
Even though Simpson says geography remains an issue for Carlisle to attract certain players, he says their improved finances gives them a “leg up” in the transfer market.
He hopes Carlisle can take advantage of that between now and August 10 to further bolster a squad that will be keen to bounce back after relegation.
Simpson says United’s “remit” is to be strong contenders among some of the other clubs he expects to be in the race in League Two.
“I do think that Gillingham will be strong. I think MK Dons will be strong. I think Chesterfield will be strong. I think Bradford City too, because I think they've got a very experienced manager in Graham Alexander,” Carlisle’s manager said.
“I think they've always got their financial clout to be able to go and have a bit of a go because of their fanbase.
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“But the only thing that I've got on my mind is that we want to be challenging.
“We have to be up there. We want to be up there, and that's the message.
“I've loved every season working at Carlisle United. It's been absolutely fantastic with the previous owners because they did everything that they possibly could for me to help us get success. I've got absolutely no complaints about that.
“[But] the new investment has actually just given us a leg-up.
United owner Tom Piatak, centre (Image: Barbara Abbott)
“The main thought [in the past at the start of a season] was ‘let's make sure we're safe and then go and push on’.
“That's still my first challenge, to make sure we're safe, but we now really are in a position where financially we're able to go and compete because we have that money available.
“The actual biggest challenge that I've got now is actually getting players to agree to come here and allow us to spend it because that's still an issue.
“We've always had the issue about where Carlisle is in terms of location, and we never had a huge budget before.
“I know I've had everything that they could afford to give me, which I was very thankful for.
“But now we've got that little bit more to be able to go and compete, so I just want players to let me spend it.”
United have made five summer signings so far, and Simpson wants to add more in attacking positions, as well as a right-sided defender.
Carlisle are starting their second week of pre-season training and the first where players will be in every day as they do more intensive work ahead of Friday’s first friendly at Penrith.
