Carlisle United manager's hopes for keeper in 2024/25

Paul Simpson hopes keeper Harry Lewis can show Carlisle United fans his full capabilities next season.

The former Bradford City man had a tough time in his first half campaign with the Cumbrians as they slid to League One relegation.

United’s increasingly leaky goals-against record saw Lewis come in for criticism.

Carlisle’s manager Simpson hopes a clean slate this summer will lead to better times in 2024/25 for United’s No1.

And he hopes others who came in for flak can have a better time of it in League Two.

“I hope that they see that – I hope Harry is able to show everybody what he’s all about,” said Simpson.

“Unfortunately, because of the way that results went in the season, particularly in the turn of the year, there are scapegoats.

“People want to blame somebody. I'm fully aware of who the people were being blamed, and me being one of them as well.

“We all have to accept that. We've just got to deal with it.

Paul Simpson wants to add a third keeper to compete with Harry Lewis and Gabe Breeze (Image: Richard Parkes)

“I know that the standards are right of what we want to do, and what we have to do is get a group of players who all want to maintain really high standards and push forward.”

Simpson is aiming to bring in a third goalkeeper this summer to compete with 26-year-old Lewis and 20-year-old Cumbrian Gabe Breeze.

He recently told the News & Star he ideally wanted the third keeper to be in between Lewis and Breeze in terms of experience.

United’s boss has also challenged Breeze to get into the best possible physical condition to make a serious contest for the first-choice role.

Carlisle are also set to bring in a new goalkeeping coach after the recent departure of Dave Timmins to Ayr United.

“It was a tough few months for Harry, but there is a very, very good goalkeeper there,” added Simpson.

“We probably didn’t protect him enough as a team, but I honestly do think that if we can get a good, strong goalkeeping department led by a new goalkeeper coach, I hope and I expect us to be stronger next season in that area.”