Club officials are confident last season's figure will be more than doubled as fans flock back to Brunton Park to back the new era ushered in by the sale of United to John Courtenay. The news will bring fresh cheer to the popular Dublin businessman who is completing the sale this week following last week's CVA arrangement which was voted through by creditors. Major players in the saga of the past three years are urging fans to get back to the ground and pack it for the opening match against Hartlepool United. Brooks Mileson, who appears to have missed out in his quest to get on to the board of directors, was nevertheless adamant that fans should get behind the new owner. "I'm very disappointed in the way the situation between John Courtenay and me has gone, but Carlisle United is bigger than Brooks Mileson and John Courtenay. The people of Carlisle have got what they wanted - a change of ownership. I'm saying to them, get behind John Courtenay and get behind Carlisle United," he said. Alan Steel, the chairman of supporters' trust CCUIST who campaigned vigorously to remove discredited former owner Michael Knighton also urged supporters to back the new ownership. "More than 27,000 Cumbrians went to Wembley twice and 15,000 turned up to see Arsenal. We would urge every one of those people to make every effort to support the club in every way possible - beginning by pouring through the gates in their thousands for the first game of the season next Saturday at Brunton Park," he said.
"From a football point of view, it is superb for Carlisle, as the majority of their fans have been waiting for something to happen for years. People who have been going to games will no doubt turn up to show their support for the club and its new owner Mr Courtenay," he said. United's odds have been slashed from 66-1 to as low as 20-1 in some cases and the acquisition of the Irish pair of striker Trevor Molloy and defender Brian Shelley could be the key that unlocks the promotion door for the newly-ambitious Cumbrians. Molloy is likely to make his debut up front alongside last season's top scorer Richie Foran on Saturday. Shelley has been a regular in Ireland's under-21 side alongside Premiership players such as Manchester United's John O'Shea and Arsenal's keeper Graham Stack. Roddy Collins has been hoping this week to tie-up a deal with Sunderland to bring back popular winger Brendan McGill, whose extended loan spell last season was fundamental in helping to lift Carlisle off the bottom of the league. The Cumbrians have also had young Bolton starlet Ryan Baldachino on trial. However he would not come cheap and Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce is unlikely to want to part with him on a permanent basis. Picture from News & Star |
