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" I am leaving yes, that has happened over the last two or three days, the two clubs have been in discussion regarding my position as the manager. I was asked by Paul Baker (Chairman) if it was something that interested me, I said that it was and the two clubs have got together and Carlisle I believe have paid some compensation to Cheltenham Town. I'll be moving into Carlisle's hotseat, if you like, from Wednesday onwards.
" They did come knocking on the door around 18 months ago and I think that was reasonably notified to everybody but that wasn't something that interested me at that time. We'd just got promoted at Cardiff as you know, I was on holiday, I wanted to come back and work with this group of players and this club once again. That was something that Cheltenham wanted me to do as well so that really interested me.
" Things change in life, people's perspectives change, Carlisle have come with an ambition to try to push their football club another stage further and it is something that interests me to try to do. You can't dictate timing in any walk of life, things happen and you have to make decisions, I think that is what it is all about. I think that I've got an opportunity to have another stage at my career.
" I've thoroughly enjoyed the four years here, it's been a fantastic time, I'm very proud of what we have done. I'm very proud of the players and I've just thanked them, they've just found out after the game at Port Vale. Also the supporters, we grumble that there aren't that many of them but the ones that have been coming to Whaddon Road have been fantastic. We have had a decent away travelling get behind the team and everybody has worked really hard over the last three or four years to improve this football club.
" Nothing lasts forever but things will change around the football club with other people coming in and working at it and I hope that it continues. I hope it carries on being successful because it's in a good position, it's got a super ground, it's got a steady board, it's got an excellent backroom staff. It's got a very honest group of footballers, we all know that they need to be a little bit better and they know that above all else. They work very hard for the shirts that they wear and that's something that I have always insisted on. "
" I hope that continues wherever this football club goes and it will always have a place with me because it was a thoroughly enjoyable time as well. It was a hard-working time and we've moved it on considerably I think, that's for other people to judge. I think that we're in a good position now though to hopefully give someone a chance to take it a bit further. I hope that people don't feel too badly about me making that decision.
" There is a potential at Carlisle, the people there, the owners want to try to exploit it if they can. It is something that is apparent to me that is there that is a little bit above where I am at the moment. It's a heck of a long way to try to find it but I'm looking forward to another challenge with a club that I'd like to think we can work at. I don't know how the result is tonight at Hartlepool but it's a top six/top eight club at this particular time and I hope I don't go and spoil it.
" There is an element that probably came to the fore three or four weeks ago that probably said the club (Cheltenham) was in a position where it may not be able to move too much further too quickly. I'm sure all football clubs can move further and can move on and it's always been a question of injecting that extra sort of cash if you like to try to take it on and move it further forward.
" It's a difficult concept for Cheltenham Town to do that, the club needs another 500 to 1,000 people at every home game to do that and it hasn't happened over the four years that I have been here. We have only filled it once I believe and that was for Newcastle United, it wasn't really quite full for the play-off matches but there are people out there that are interested in the club but don't come every week. It either needs that or someone else to finance it but that's not around either or happening.
" It's a tough situation for everybody at the club and the opportunity at Carlisle is slightly different to that. Hopefully I can go up there and be successful but there is always the big challenge at Cheltenham Town to keep moving forward and that has to remain the priority here, it has to move forward. It won't go quickly, we've always said that but it now needs to change a little bit. I'm leaving so it has to change, and someone else has got to come in and get on with it and move it forward if they can. "
" Keith Downing (his assistant manager) is not coming with me, Keith is going to get the opportunity here for a while I believe so good luck to him. He's left with a tough one after the Port Vale result obviously but the home game against Oldham will give everybody a lift. It will bring the crowd in and get behind Keith, Keith has been fantastic in the time I have been here. It's nice that people say that I have done well but I can't do it without all the people that have worked with me.
" There is a fantastic back-room staff of people, Ian Weston is one of the best physiotherapists that I have ever worked with and people like Keith Downing have kept this football club going. I could walk away for two or three days and I know that everything would be working away in the absolute right manner so it's left in extremely good hands. I hope the guys that I have left in charge of it get the support that they deserve.
" You'll have to ask the players what their reaction is, I've just told them and came out of the dressing room to see you guys really. It's a bad time to do it, you can't pick things, we have just lost 3-0 as well and the manager is walking away and they'll all probably think slightly different things I guess. What I've said to them is that I hope they have enjoyed their time here. Every time I have made a decision that has affected an individual as a player I've tried to do it for the benefit of the team and the football club.
" I hope they recognise that and I don't really expect as a manager to have friendships with too many players but I hope that we have respect for each other. Whenever me meet again I hope that we look each other in the eye and know that we have done it honestly with each other, that is a really big thing for me. I'd like to think that with everybody in that dressing room tonight that they and I will be able to do that when we do meet again.
" I've enjoyed it, thanks for the support, the press guys have been excellent, everyone has been really well. It's really important that all you stick in now and take this football club a bit further as and when you can. "