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Simpson on plans for permanent and loan signings at Carlisle United
Paul Simpson admits Carlisle United must play the loan market better next season – but his priority is permanent signings.
The Blues’ efforts in the temporary transfer market last season did not pay off.
Simpson says it’s an area where United must improve in 2024/25.
But that will come further down the line than the permanent additions he is aiming to make this close season.
“The frustration with loans is that clubs don't allow them to come out early, so I want to try and get permanent signings in to bulk the squad, and then the loans are a bonus afterwards,” said United manager Simpson.
“They weren’t a bonus last season for lots of different reasons, but my priority is permanent signings.
“I keep saying it, I want players who are fully committed to Carlisle United, who are 100 per cent going to do all they possibly can.
“Now, there's no guarantee it'll bring us success, but we are wanting players to throw themselves into it to give us the best chance of success.”
Simpson, who has released eight players, wants to make significant additions in a number of positions for the return to League Two in 2024/25.
United used seven loanees during their 2023/24 relegation campaign and returned few success stories from them.
United's use of the loan market was not a success last season (Image: Barbara Abbott)
The loan players to turn out for United during the season were Terry Ablade, Jokull Andresson, Fin Back, Jack Diamond, Seán Grehan, Joshua Kayode and Luke Plange.
Asked if Carlisle, as in their permanent signing hunt, could lean more on data as part of their loan recruitment efforts, Simpson suggested that may not be the case.
“In truth, because most loan signings are coming from Premier League clubs, and they're younger ones, we cannot get [the same level of] data on Premier League 2 games, so that doesn't help,” he said.
“So that's a different thing – that's [about] getting recommendations, that's us following it up and watching these players, or even the knowledge that we've got from them from last season's games, that's where that'll come into it.
“But just like everything in this football club – and it all comes down to me, it all comes under my umbrella – I have to be able to deal with that.
“We have to be better in all of the areas that we work in the new season.”
