United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Paul Newton (PN) at Thursday morning's press conference for the local media, Abbott first talking about his return from holiday ten days or so before the start of pre-season training :
GA
I needed a break, you still work but it is a different level and you need that to charge the batteries up because the industry gets tougher and tougher. Next season for everybody in the game, management and coaching and players and fans it will be another tough one, that is for the 92 league clubs and we are in that, but we are ready.
PN
How much work were you able to do while on holiday and where do things currently stand?
GA
In terms of how much work I did we are going to meet another player next week, a really good player, it is going to be very difficult to pull the deal off because there is a lot of interest in him. But, that is another thing that we have got arranged, we have got the chance to meet him and speak to him so we will do that on Monday.
He is exciting and one that could be developed into something quite a bit better. Age-wise, a really good age, young, he is younger than........... He is under 25 by quite a bit and I think he is ready for his career to kick off. He has been with a decent club, a big, big club, and he is the different type. I am trying to get the balance right of experience and youth and that type of thing and he is one that fits a lot of the boxes at the minute.
PN
Would you be looking for a replacement for Tom Taiwo?
GA
I think with Tom's decision to do what he is doing I think we need to bring in a midfield player. Again, a lot of work has been done there and I have left Dennis (Booth) with a host of people to ring to find out availabilities. But, that is one I think that I can be patient with because if I can finally agree with James (Berrett) who I have sorted it 99 and a half percent there with James. I have got Liam (Noble) and I have already got Paul Thirlwell, so unless something comes in that really tickles my fancy then I think we can be patient with that one and have a look at what gets thrown at you late because there are always some surprises.
Obviously, losing Francois (Zoko) we could maybe do with something in that area. We could maybe do with a type of player that could fill that void and also play down the middle if required, so an attacker that could possibly step into Lee (Miller's) shoes. I think Danny (Cadamarteri) can do that, you lose a little bit of height with Danny but certainly you won't lose any aggression or any determination.
But, we are looking at putting a squad together that can cover every eventuality if you like, and it is difficult because we haven't got.............. we can't bring in the type of numbers you would probably want. So, you have got to get some two-in-one players, and I think that is the key that we look for that type of player to fill the void should things go against us in terms of injuries or suspensions, even loss of form or poor results.
PN
Two players we know you have expressed interest in in the past before, Stuart Parnaby and Jordan Cook, what is the latest situation on those two?
GA
Well, Stuart rang me actually, he rang me and said that he would like to consider coming training but that he was talking to a Championship club. He said that he would ring me back with details of that conversation and I have not heard back from him since. So, I have told Stuart the door is open, but at the minute I have not spoken to him so I presume talks have gone OK otherwise I would have heard from him again. He was chasing us but I will just give him a courtesy phone call and find out where is, so at the minute that one is pretty quiet.
Jordan, again is speaking to a Championship club, until the talks have been finalised then he is off, he has to do that for his own personal development, that is him and his agent talking. If they can do Championship then that is what they want to do, so that is quiet until that situation is resolved.
PN
Is there an element of frustration, maybe disappointment, that you haven't been able to tie something up with Jordan yet given the fact he clearly enjoyed his time with you?
GA
In every disappointment another door and another player becomes available. The player I am talking to might even be better, so you have to look at that. We are always going to get disappointment as managers in terms of players we are chasing, even the likes of Sir Alex (Ferguson) and Harry Redknapp and Arsene Wenger get that type of disappointment because everybody is after the best that they can afford at that level.
But, what you have got and you have in your mindset is that if you do get some disappointment that you turn it into a positive and look elsewhere and find another player that you think can be equally as good if not better. The player I am actually looking at has probably played at a higher level and scored goals at a higher level than Jordan has, so he might be even more exciting. But, we like Jordan for what he did while he was here and the door is still sort of open but not as open as it was because he is talking to a Championship club.
PN
I have to ask you about Jon-Paul McGovern, Steve Evans has gone on record as saying he is interested in bringing Jon-Paul to the club, what is the situation with Jon-Paul as it currently stands?
GA
Steve Evans will always be interested in good players and J-P is a good player, so there is your interest. But, he is our player and I wouldn't declare any interest in anybody else's players, that is not the way I do things, Steve does what he does and I do my things, but J-P is my player at the minute and that is the way it is. If he comes back I will deal with that and if he goes elsewhere I will deal will that.
Maybe further down the line I will explain why the situation has arisen in the first place, but I had a gentleman's agreement with J-P when he signed and he took a hefty hit on his wages when he came and I will let you know of a gentleman's conversation further down the line. It doesn't need to evolve itself at the moment but there is absolutely no issue and if J-P is back then he will be giving it everything he has got, because he likes being here, and if he is not then I will deal with that situation.
PN
With regard to James Berrett you have mentioned and the two other players (Peter Murphy and Frank Simek) who are waiting to sign contracts and have given verbal agreements, we have got July 1st approaching now, is there a need for the players to get those deals signed up before then?
GA
I think there is a need to get the agreements done, but I think John Nixon has been away, I have been away and the players have been away. I think sometimes you get to a stage where you are 99% there, you need to sit round in a room face to face and say what needs to happen, this needs to happen and it gets resolved.
I would think they will get all resolved in the next two to three days, 2pm this afternoon (Thursday) I have got a lengthy meeting with John to go through a whole host of issues. I will be wanting to talk about the players and getting them done and finished and finalised, and John will be talking about a lot of other things that go with the running of the club and the infrastructure.
But, my priority today, I have come up and I am going to be tough with it, is to try to get these agreements done, and get John to make sure that we get them across the line, get the players in signed and ready to come and join us next week. But, in my own mind I think they are almost done, so I would be very, very disappointed if anything should go wrong there. But, you are right, once they are signed they are our players and we need to find a conclusion to that.