|
" I'm just going to Scunthorpe v Blackpool tonight, because we've got Blackpool on Boxing Day so it's a good chance for me to see them live, and then I've got the arduous journey of driving down to Swansea myself. It's a long haul but it's part of my job, if we have a chance to see a team then we have to take it, if we have to drive further down instead of the comfort of the coach then we have to do that.
" It's vitally important to get a result tomorrow because it's all about confidence as well, if we can pick up three points it would be fabulous. If we can come away with a better performance than we had on Saturday though, and a point in the bag, with a long travel back then that would be good and that would just set us up over the Christmas period.
" We can only really determine what will be a satisfactory result after the game, we're looking for a better performance than we had last week, and certainly a better performance than we have had in the past away from home. Although saying that the Bournemouth game we got three points in and we played a lot better against Bristol City away but unfortunately it's a results business and we need to get more points way from home if we possibly can.
" I think the form has been good, it's easy to turn round on the statistics and say it hasn't, two weeks ago it was one defeat in five so you can say the statistics any which way you want. We are concerned that we have lost two on the trot but we're working hard to put that right. Of course there is pressure when you are not winning games but we are ninth in the league which is a healthy position. I'm hoping that everybody would have taken that at this stage and we've got a chance of winning three points to possibly go above Swansea and almost put ourselves in the play-off positions which I think is credible to everybody really. "
" We've got a few players missing tomorrow but if you start moaning about injuries and suspensions then you do feel sorry for yourself. It's certainly a chance for somebody else to come into the team and stake a claim for a position on a regular basis. He (Lee Trundle) is a danger of course and we know that, but to get the ball he has to get it from somebody else so we need to stop the source. Then when he gets the ball we have rules and responsibilities in the team, we've never individually marked one person this season and we're ninth in the league. We've done reasonably well on that so I don't see why we should change for just one person.
" A deal for Paul Thirlwell is very close, I've just come off the phone and it's getting closer all the time, we're very hopeful that within the next week or so it can all be tied up. He's still got 18 months on his contract at Derby and Derby are going well at the moment, and Paul has got that contract to be honoured. Obviously the financial side comes down to the fact that he wants to be sorted out, Derby want a good price for their player and we're trying to get him at a decent price as well. There are plenty of negotiations and haggling but it's getting closer and closer as time goes on.
" It's frustrating that they (Karl Hawley and Peter Murphy) won't commit, but they certainly haven't said that they won't commit and we have to hang on to that. If it goes past December and into January then we'll keep on working hard on them, if they decide otherwise and to say no then I'll have to line up other people to replace them. We're very hopeful though that what we are doing at the football club and the way that the football club is being run at the moment that they will sign. They are just trying to keep their options open I suppose which is understandable but it's very frustrating for the fans and the club that they are not putting pen to paper, but we're hopeful that they will.
" Any speculation on Stuart Green is just that, pure speculation, I'm not saying there is any truth in it or not. When people are from Carlisle they have lots of people that they know and there are a lot of people asking about players who live in Carlisle but are playing for different clubs. There is always going to be speculation on who is coming and who is going and I've really got to keep my cards close to my chest I'm afraid. "