Sporting director Clarkson 'leading' Blues' search for new boss
Rob Clarkson will have the leading role in Carlisle United's appointment of a new head coach.
The sporting director is overseeing the crucial decision-making process regarding Mike Williamson's successor.
The chair of United's supporters' trust confirmed today that Clarkson would be putting the names of candidates to the club's board.
Carlisle are keen to make a quick appointment following Monday's sacking of Williamson.
It will be the first appointment since the arrival of Clarkson - who, along with his paymasters at Brunton Park, is under huge pressure to get the decision right.
MIKE WILLIAMSON SACKED - READ OUR ESSENTIAL COVERAGE
Jon Colman on Williamson at Carlisle: A story of flawed judgement and priorities
xG and box entries: how the stats reflect on Williamson's United reign
Dan MacLennan, chair of Carlisle United Supporters' Trust, discussed the process in an interview on BBC Radio Cumbria today.
"Rob Clarkson will be leading on this. As sporting director, that's what he's been brought in for," he said.
"Any good sporting director will have lists all the time of who's available in case this happens.
"He will no doubt have a shortlist, take it to the board, of which we [the Trust] are involved in, and discussions, interviews, etc will happen, and whoever comes in - this is my personal [view] - they get the clean slate, we give them a chance."
United want a new boss in place in time for Saturday's trip to Grimsby Town, the first of 18 games left to save the Blues' EFL status.
The club hierarchy acted on Monday morning in the wake of the 5-1 home defeat to Swindon Town.
MacLennan said the Blues' owners, the Piatak family, will have been in no doubt as to supporters' sentiments.
"The club owners aren't stupid, they hear the people singing...we as a trust get feedback, we pass that on every week through the leadership group meetings, that sort of thing," the fan representative added.
The Piatak family were under no illusions about fan sentiment, says the Trust chair (Image: Richard Parkes)
"People wonder what do we actually do - believe me, we tell them [all the feedback from fans] we get, and I mean everything.
"People might not believe this, but there were quite a few people in support of Mike Williamson who took the longer term view.
"But what can you do after [losing] 1-5 at home [and five defeats in six]? The writing really was on the wall, unfortunately, a decision's been made and now we move on to the search for a new man."
Former Bolton Wanderers and Barrow boss Ian Evatt was among the bookies' favourites last night, along with former Motherwell chief Stuart Kettlewell, with ex-Northampton Town manager Jon Brady another possible contender - but reports linking Steven Gerrard with the post thought to be at the unlikely end of the scale.
Betting markets, though, appear to have been taken down this morning.
