New United signing Danny Cadamarteri (DC) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Tom Burrows (TB) at Thursday afternoon's press conference for the local media, frontman Cadamarteri first talking about the reasons behind him putting pen to paper for the Blues :
DC
Obviously, over the last few years they have been progressing very well, obviously just missing out on the play-offs in the last two seasons. So, from that point of view it is a good opportunity for me to try to contribute to helping the club progress. Obviously, the manager (Greg Abbott) has got a fantastic record since he has taken over here as well of helping players and the club progress as well, so they were all attractive for me as a player.
TB
Have you had a lot of conversations with the manager, and was that a factor in joining?
DC
Yeah, definitely, a very, very passionate guy, passionate about his football, passionate about this club as well. He really sold the club to me on a number of occasions, and I know a couple of players that play here at the moment as well that have really sold the club and sold the management team to me as well, so key factors.
TB
Which are those players that you already know?
DC
Erm, Andy Welsh, I know Jon-Paul McGovern, Paul Thirlwell, James Berrett, so obviously influential players at the club as well.
TB
And what kind of things have they said?
DC
Just obviously the management team are very passionate, great work-ethic. The club is obviously small knit but a tight bond, obviously enjoy training and all want to progress, and they are the sort of things you want to hear as a player when you potentially join another club.
TB
So, you have had 12 clubs in 16 years, very experienced player, what would you say that you bring to Carlisle United?
DC
I am hoping that I can bring enthusiasm, energy, obviously the experience that I have had from clubs in the past, hopefully with some of the younger players. I know there are some experienced players here as well now, so hopefully the experiences that I have had as well can contribute to the experience that some of the older pros have got. Hopefully a little bit of an insight into how Huddersfield got through promotion, and obviously I was involved in a defeat in a play-off final the year before as well. So, hopefully that bit of experience as well can hopefuly benefit Carlisle.
TB
You are quite an attack-minded player it is fair to say, is that something that Greg Abbott said that he really wanted to get you on board for that reason?
DC
Yeah, he has obviously seen me play a number of occasions, he knows I play a number of different positions as well. I predominantly like to play down the middle, but I can play left midfield or right midfield. The formation that Carlisle play with the diamond and the attackers coming off the line as well suits me either side. So, it gives me an opportunity to fill a position in a number of different roles, and hopefully that will benefit me with more game-time and hopefully benefit the club as well.
I have signed a two-year contract, obviously part of the reason of agreeing a two-year contract was to hopefully enjoy the first season and getting promoted and having the opportunity to play in the Championship with Carlisle. I think it is better to be an optimist, I think with the way the club is going I think they were maybe unfortunate to miss out on the play-offs this year with obviously losing such key players.
Obviously, Lee Miller being one of them and missing out on his goals in the last couple of games. So, I think that with a couple of additions and obviously the focal point of a big striker as well, it could be an interesting and exciting season and hopefully I can contribute to that and we can experience a push for the play-offs and automatic promotion if not.
TB
You were a free agent, were there other clubs interested?
DC
Yeah, there were, and I have made a couple of phone calls prior to speaking to yourselves just to speak to the managers that I was involved in negotiations with as well just to kind of let them know that I have decided to come to Carlisle and it was a better opportunity for me as well. So, again it is a decision I have made from a footballing point of view and also from my family's point of view as well.
TB
Can you tell us what those clubs were?
DC
I would rather not, not really.
TB
Can you tell us what level they were at?
DC
Two in the Scottish Premier League and two clubs also in League One that I would expect one of them to be in and around us but below us at the end of the season, just slightly.
TB
So, you are in Cumbria, you are experiencing the lovely Cumbrian weather, are you planning to move up here?
DC
At the moment I am not too sure, obviously I have got a family to think about as well, I drove up today and it didn't take me that long. But, I will see how things go over the next few weeks and come through pre-season and then make that decision a little bit closer to that time.
TB
And finally, have you ever played against Carlisle United before?
DC
Yeah, I have played against them a few times, and I think my most memorable game that I remember playing against Carlisle was the season before when Carlisle had in the first leg thumped Huddersfield (4-0) in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. I played in the second leg of that where to be fair we kind of got the better of Carlisle at that time and we just couldn't quite get enough goals to go through. But, that was the most memorable game against Carlisle. But, I have been up here and watched a few games as well with having friends here.
TB
And you are excited for this new challenge?
DC
I can't wait, it is just a shame that I am signing now and not a few weeks further down the line when we can get into the nitty gritty you know. But, I am excited to get back in now and get my boots on and get in the dressing room with the lads and get stuck into pre-season training.