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" People are speculating that it's something untoward that Neil has done, that isn't the case. It's not a disciplinary issue, it is our view on his role as manager of Carlisle United and all that entails. It isn't the first game that was significant, the timing probably couldn't have been worse but when we finally made the decision I thought that it was important that once we had made the decision that we acted on it. There was no point in letting it drag on and it had to be addressed.
" If I went into specifics it would be such a pot-shot on it that it would be misleading and would give a misleading picture as to why we have lost confidence in him. It's difficult in not being able to explain to people to reassure them, but obviously I think and the board think that we made the right decision. If I went into specifics I think we'd get a little potted view of it that would be misleading and I don't want to do that.
" Greg Abbott has been appointed caretaker manager, and Greg is looking at what he is going to do. Obviously I have been talking with Greg this afternoon and I'm quite comfortable with that, I'm in no hurry to go looking for a replacement manager. We want to keep our options open for the club, I'm very comfortable with where we are and very comfortable with where we are going in the immediate future. Greg Abbott is acting as caretaker manager and I'm quite comfortable with that.
" I think it's unfair if I start talking about the reaction of the players because that would either reflect well or badly on Neil so I don't want to go into that. I'm quite comfortable with what has happened on the playing side, I'm not worried that things......., obviously there is a disruption involved but I am quite happy that we are OK. We're going to be out there tomorrow night, we'll give Bury a damn good game and on the football side we'll continue to progress.
" It doesn't affect the signing of Joe Garner. I fully expect people (the fans) to be very confused because when they are not involved in the football club, of course this has come out of the blue as far as the fans are concerned. What we've had over the last three years, we've had stability and that is so important in a football club, this of course is going against the grain as far as stability is concerned.
" It's not something that I've done lightly or that the board has done lightly. It's not something that you want to happen but if you think that it is the right thing then it's our job to grasp the mettle and do the right thing for the football club. I'd ask people to have patience and have a bit of faith, I think it's the right thing and the board think it is the right thing. People are going to be worried in the meantime but I can only reassure them that the decision is nothing untoward, there is not a skeleton in the cupboard.
" Neil is a nice guy, I got on well with Neil, we just didn't think that it was right for the future of the football club. We're determined, and I'm determined, that we'll go on and be even more successful at Carlisle United. "