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" It was Paul's decision to go and we've got to respect that, it was purely a career move, Paul Simpson is a very ambitious fellow and that is the way anyone should approach their career. The players are fine, although obviously they feel like everyone else, they are surprised and disappointed but it isn't the first time a football manager has moved on.
" This is the nature of the industry, press speculation being as it is tends to dramatise people's reactions, but, while everyone is disappointed, Carlisle United is still there and everyone knows that we are an ambitious club now. The players are disappointed but life goes on.
" The next manager will be the one we think will be the best choice for Carlisle United. There is a very wide range of people that we are speaking to, and are approaching us expressing an interest in the job, both big names, both young and up coming managers, and managers who have got a good track record that would be suitable for the job. There is a real wide range available.
" I won't be naming any names because I've got to keep my options open, obviously it will be no surprise for you to hear me say that. This is change and the football industry is continually changing in personnel. Change is either a problem or it is an opportunity, on Friday it was a problem, it's Monday morning and I now see it as an opportunity.
" I'm really heartened by the people who are interested in coming to Carlisle and the people who we are looking at. They are not coming without good reason either, obviously people can see what we are doing at the ground and what we have done over the last two years. Also managers I would hope though, and I think, are reassured by how we have managed Paul Simpson in the last two or three years.
" Paul has been given the full support of the board, a very rock steady board that we have got – they are all Carlisle people with Carlisle United's interests as their primary concern. Any prospective managers can see that Paul has been stood by through the bad times as well as the good.
" You're not going to see a list of potentials I can assure you of that. All that will be announced is when we decide who the manager is going to be, and I'm not going to give a time on when that is going to be. If we think it's the right time to appoint a new manager, and if we get the right man, and I've every reason to believe we will, then it will be announced, but I'm not going to go announcing someone just to hit a deadline. I'm not going to announce a manager, or appoint a manager, until I'm totally comfortable that I believe that he is the right man for Carlisle United. "