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" I think everyone is disappointed but we know that Paul is an ambitious manager and that is part of his make-up and that's why he has been so successful at Carlisle. The club moves on though, Paul has done a fantastic job for us and we're all very grateful for that, but we respect his decision and his reasons for going to Preston. Quite frankly though we've got other things to think about now and that is finding a replacement for Paul. It doesn't change where Carlisle United want to go, we want more success and we want to be a successful club.
" Their (Preston's) chairman rang me at the start of this week and talks between their chairman and Paul didn't start, I don't think, until the middle and latter end of this week so it's all happened very quickly. To persuade someone to stay you have got to show that you've got an ambitious club, that you've got a stable environment, that the package is right and that the club is going in the right direction and, quite honestly, it's pointless trying to do that at the last minute.
" We've always tried to do that, we've always tried to show Paul that Carlisle was the place for him to realise his ambitions, that's why I've always backed him 100% in his decisions and his signings. At the end of the day though if Paul Simpson perceives Preston to be the right career move, then, well it's not about money, Paul's move isn't for money, Paul's move is to further his career and Paul is very knowledgeable about football. If he makes the decision that Preston is the right move for him then there is not a lot you can do about that.
" I'm not going to say what the compensation deal is, in the relative terms of the industry we have done fine out of the compensation package, but I'd give it back three times to keep Paul Simpson. As I say, this isn't about money, if it had been about money then perhaps we could have made Paul Simpson stay. Everyone is driven by money to an extent but I know that the reason Paul has gone is because he feels it is the right career move, he's not going because he is wanting to line his pockets. "
" We're not totally sure about what backroom staff might be following him, there is a question mark over whether or not Dennis (Booth) and Russ (Richardson) the scout may move to Preston, that is still being resolved. I know that Paul thinks very highly of Dennis and obviously they have worked very well together as a team. So, again, I don't add to speculation as we have avoided having speculation this week, I know people perhaps feel that they have been kept in the dark. Quite honestly though there was no offer put on the table or accepted until this morning, and we've tried to move as quickly as possible to inform everyone after a meeting we had this afternoon. Adding to speculation doesn't help so I don't want to do that with Dennis or with Russ.
" I'm not saying : "The King is dead, long live the King", because I think that is a little bit disrepectful of Paul, Paul Simpson isn't dead as he's got a career ahead of himself. We're grateful to Paul, he's done a great job for the club but the club is bigger than any one person and we are an ambitious club. The confidence that the fans have got has been generated not just from the success on the pitch but from what has happened off the pitch as well.
" Carlisle United have now got a infrastructure, and a confidence, and a professionalism, hopefully, about it that will reassure the fans that we are only going in one direction. Over the last 20 years I think we have only got into this league twice and then we've gone straight out of it, and no way do we aim to be going out of it. We want to be successful and continue to grow the club.
" The football industry is full of rumours so lots of people have been aware that this was on the cards, so some people have been in touch already. We are starting to draw up a shortlist, we want to move as quickly as we can but not rush it, it is probably the most important decision that a board can make in appointing a manager. So we've got to get it right, we want to do it as quickly as we can without rushing it. "
" I'm here at Carlisle United because I want it to be successful and so does the rest of the board. Whilst I definitely regret Paul leaving, I quite like challenges and this is another challenge for us to overcome. We've got to show that Carlisle United is not a one man company, Paul has done a great job for us, he's had a lot of backing from us but the new manager will get that same backing and he'll get that same ambition. We are investing in the club and we will continue to do so.
" I sound a bit glum because I'm disappointed that Paul has gone, which I am, but I am still very optimistic for the future of Carlisle United. They aren't just words that I say because I think I've got to say them – I mean it, I hope the fans realise that we've got big ambitions for Carlisle United.
" I haven't got a new timeframe in mind other than as soon as possible, I don't want to say that we want to get a manager appointed for the 1st of July when the players come back, but that would be the ideal situation. If that means rushing it though and not getting a good view and some good interviews with the right candidates, then it will take as long as it needs to take. The quicker that is done though is obviously the better because speculation doesn't do the club any good, people want to know where they are going so they can plan for the future.
" I always had great respect for Paul but the driving force with him is his ambition, he works extremely hard but he does that because he is ambitious. I always recognised that it was our job to make this club as attractive as possible, you might say that we have failed in that. We can't achieve miracles overnight, we've done incredibly well in the last two years and we're going to continue to invest in this club so that it is something we can all be proud of. I'm disappointed, I suppose that I could say that I'm not surprised because I know that he is ambitious but we've got to move on, and we will move on, and we'll move in the right direction. "