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" We're chuffed to bits about Ben Williams, I think that there was a fair bit of competition for Ben's signature. All the references we got from him were excellent, he is a good age at 26 and we are looking forward to replacing Keiren (Westwood) as quietly as possible. Because we know that we have lost a top goalkeeper, let's hope that we have found one that can really step into his shoes and blossom, he is a terrific age I think for a keeper.
" He's had 13 clean sheets last season at a time when Crewe haven't been at their best, that is a real good recommendation in itself. I think that nobody would disagree that we were probably better than Crewe over the last two seasons, and I think we were better in front of goalkeepers than Crewe were. So if he has had 13 clean sheets there then we would like to think that we can do a little bit better and protect him that little bit more. Then hopefully we can increase that number and see him develop even further.
" There is a lot more than just identifying targets and going and getting them, and I think that the fans understand that. I don't think that the whole picture with Shane (Higgs) was right, he is a good goalkeeper, funnily enough when Neil McDonald was here with myself we actually asked John (Ward) about him. He said that we had absolutely no chance of getting him, and that he didn't want us to recommend him to any of the higher clubs, that is how highly rated he was.
" The whole equation wasn't right though with Shane, I don't think that he was too keen on coming so far north. There were too many problematic questions that he was asking that help you slant your favour towards Ben who is a Manchester boy and has not got so far to come. He was really keen, he's enthusiastic, he's got good pedigree as well just like Shane, but he ticked all the boxes whereas Shane didn't.
" To be fair Manchester United go through a lot of goalkeepers, there are a lot of good keepers come out of Manchester United, (Ben) Foster is another one. There are keepers there from Manchester United that go out because they can't force their way past into the first-team. What he will have had there though is a really top class grooming with top class coaches at top class facilities. "
" It will have given him a real work ethic on how to do his work. So we are looking for him to bring that with him, we are looking then to pitch him into battle, which he has had with Crewe, and develop his game even further. His grounding and his basis of goalkeeping will have been done at Manchester United and there are not many better places to go than that.
" I would think that we can expect some more players in, if I expect too then I'm sure that the fans will. The fans are always impatient, they are like myself, I am impatient as well but you have got to do your work properly and you have got to bide your time. There are targets there that we have identified already, they are not quite ready to come or commit just yet. There are clubs looking to bring in other players before they release players, there are lots of things. We are down the pecking order in terms of the level we are at, you are waiting for the big boys to do their work.
" Like Manchester United and Arsenal, that spreads down to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Derby and Birmingham and then when they have got players in that they want then their surplus players become available. That is the time when Carlisle United have to move, so all that work is in progress. Hopefully we won't disappoint and we'll have one or two more players in before we actually kick off on August the 9th. There is still a good way to go before August the 9th. I've not to give too much away, I've got a good poker face, it's a good poker face for radio anyway.
" There is nothing imminent just at the moment but I have to assure you that work is in progress, but you have to wait your turn sometimes at this level. All the work is being done though, and as soon as the right time is ready to go then we will do. I'd like to think the fans know that August the 9th is the key date rather than July the 9th to be fair. Because we have to make sure that we get the right players in, and we do have to wait until the big boys have done their work so that players become available a little bit further down the line.
" I'm just in Garforth today, a place in Leeds, and it's a bit of a football event with Bill Green. I think that he was an old Carlisle player who is now chief scout for Paul Jewell at Derby. He organises it every year, there are quite a few football people turn up and it's a good afternoon. So I'm going to work my socks off toiling around this golf course, it's hard work.
" Then there is a meal afterwards and that is hard work as well. I'm going to do my best to stick at it though, then hopefully see my way home about nine o'clock and put my feet up. My handicap is 12 but I'm playing more like 16 or 17 at the moment, I don't get that much time to play now, John (Ward) works me very hard you know. "