United manager Graham Kavanagh (GK) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) following Carlisle's 0-0 League One draw away to Crawley, Kavanagh first talking about United's now almost certain relegation to League Two:
JP
One or two fans still clinging to the dream of the miracle, in your opinion is it over now for Carlisle United ahead of the weekend’s match?
GK
It looks that way yeah, I mean I am obviously not going to give up hope, we are going to keep fighting, but it does definitely look that way yeah. We have had a horrendous March and April, there is no doubting that, we have not got the results that we have wanted. Tonight I thought was a very gallant and honest and energetic performance from a team that was desperate to try to get a win.
We again for whatever reason couldn’t manage to get that goal, I think you have got to be honest and say that we have definitely lacked quality. It can’t be coincidence and it can’t be bad luck that we keep talking about it because it has happened too many times. I was very proud of the players tonight, I knew it would be a difficult situation for them but I thought they gave a very good account of themselves.
JP
I know you would always say that they weren’t not trying, but if you compare the effort and spirit of tonight compared to Saturday it does look very different even if it is only one point different?
GK
Well, I will try to explain it and I don’t know whether people out there will understand it, but when you are in a position as we are with the group that we have with the inexperience and the youth, being in a situation like this carries a great burden if you like and a responsibility. The players understand that and knew it and I think that impacts on your performance.
It is a fear factor, it stops you being free, it stops you thinking clearly, panic sets in, fear sets in and that was what we got on Saturday. I think once we conceded a goal that all went out of the window and we actually went and played and we looked like we could actually perform at a decent level. Tonight I said to them, we did an inspirational DVD which they all bought into, but I said, look I want us to play like we are relegated.
I don’t want to have the situation of all this fear again because it is crippling some of us. Just go out and enjoy the game, give it your all, be up against your man, be effective, be aggressive, look him in the eye and tell him you are not going to stop come what may. To be fair that is what they did tonight and I very proud but am sitting here tonight with a very sort of deep sadness if you like. Because, the situation has been now that we look like we are going to lose League One status.
JP
367th game in this run in League One this was and it does look like it will come to the end on Saturday, those travelling fans over there really appreciated everyone going over there, 226 of them on a Tuesday night coming all this way?
GK
Magnificent, they were absolutely magnificent. They are an absolute credit to themselves and the football club, very supportive tonight, they got behind us, it is a Tuesday night miles and miles away from home and they were just absolutely top drawer. To be honest they deserved the win for their part in what was a good performance if you like, but we just didn’t give it enough to get that goal we so desperately wanted.
JP
Lee Miller wasn’t involved tonight, can you tell us what the situation there?
GK
Yeah, he was left out of the squad basically.
JP
Injured or for any reason that you can tell us?
GK
He wasn’t injured no, wasn’t injured.
JP
Can you elaborate on that or not?
GK
I can elaborate on it a bit yeah. He decided he wanted to do his own thing on Saturday after the game when I had a meeting. He said it was a mis-understanding, there was him and another player who didn’t turn up for the meeting, which was after we had all gone. I took exception to that, there were 22 other players who sat and faced the music and were very much in it to win it tonight and wanted to come. So, I felt if that was going to be the case I only want players who are going to be committed tonight, so that is why I selected the squad I did.
JP
Has he let the squad down then by not being available to you?
GK
No, I am not saying he has let the squad down, that is for everyone else to decide. But, it was a disciplinary matter and I dealt with it and that was the reason why we left him behind.
JP
I am not going to ask about your future because I know you answered that at length on Saturday, plans now for next season, do they start to be in hand, do you start planning and hoping?
GK
They start tomorrow, they start tomorrow, we are going to have a day off, the players are, we are going to have a meeting with the staff, we are going to put a plan in action and we are going to do all we can over the course of the summer to reshape the group and football club. We need to see if we can get a structure in place that will help us in all areas and look to attack the season as of the first day for when we come back for pre-season.
JP
And if your board stay with you how determined and committed are you to try to get Carlisle back up into League One?
GK
Oh, I am not going to leave any stone unturned to make sure this happens. I will give my absolute all to the football club to make sure. Do I feel responsible? Most definitely. Are there circumstances and reasons behind it? Yes, there are but I think that is for another day. But, feeling the way I do tonight and the players and the staff as we are all in this together, and everybody wants to put it right.
So, that is a good start but it is a difficult one, honestly it is a difficult one. The last few weeks have been difficult trying to get players and teams in place that you feel are they good enough to get over the line and are they good enough to get us a performance and a result.
With the amount of injuries we have had and I know a lot of managers will say that, but we haven’t had the biggest of squads and that is why we have delved so heavily into the loan market. So, I think these are all lessons that we need to learn for next season and these are all things that we need to put in place and make sure it doesn’t happen again.
JP
Lee Miller, will he not be up for selection on Saturday or might he be back?
GK
I have not decided yet.