The shock announcement from Brunton Park, just over 24 hours before kick-off time is believed to have been made in response to accusations of 'irregular' gate receipts being reported for the first three home fixtures. The official gate for the first home match against Hartlepool has risen twice from 10,684 to 10,743 to a final resting place of 11,041. Tickets will be on sale from the club shop in Warwick Road from 4pm tomorrow afternoon and from a special Portakabin near the entrance to the East Stand. Spectators are asked to turn up by 7.15pm to allow for extra queuing time. Volunteers will be manning the ticket booths to make sure all the supporters can get in on time. The main ticket office will NOT be open tomorrow. Visitors Rochdale are expected to have 37-year-old veteran Ian Bishop in their side. Bishop left Carlisle in 1988 to join AFC Bournemouth after a successful 4-year stint at Brunton Park. From there he went on to play for Manchester City (twice) and West Ham before a spell in the USA last year. Dale are managed by Carlisle-born Paul Simpson, another ex-City player. Simpson is also Dale's top scorer so far this season with four goals. The Cumbrians still have a striker crisis with Richie Foran and Trevor Molloy sitting out the second of their three games on the sidelines due to suspension. Defender Brian Shelley ends his two-game ban tomorrow night and will be available for the League Cup clash at Rotherham next Tuesday. Defender Lee Maddison and winger Ryan Baldacchino are still unavailable through injury. Teenager John Slaven may be pressing for a starting spot after being on the bench last Saturday. Meanwhile Roddy Collins increased the number of goalkeeper's on the clubs books again today when he signed Robbie Burns on YTS forms. 16-year-old Burns has arrived from Irish side Portmarnock. No decision has yet been made on Grant Holt, the Cumbrian-born striker who was Barrow's top scorer last season in the Unibond League with 26 goals. Holt, who spent the summer playing for a club in Singapore, has been staying with the United squad during their team-building exercise in Ireland this week. He has previously had league experience with Halifax Town and has also had a successful stint with Workington Reds. Carlisle formerly had him on schoolboy terms but released him. Picture from News & Star |
