Former United midfielder Tom Taiwo (TT) took time out from his holiday in Portugal to speak to BBC Radio Cumbria's Tom Burrows (TB) today, Taiwo in the opening part of a lengthy interview first talking about his decision to turn down the offer of a new contract with the Blues :
TT
It was very difficult, obviously I have had three fantastic years, I couldn't have really asked for it to have gone any better. Maybe getting into the play-offs through the last couple of games would have been the pinnacle, the ideal, but unfortunately that didn't happen. I am just very grateful for the opportunity that Carlisle have given me and that made the decision even harder.
TB
And how long did it take to make this decision?
TT
I have been swinging both ways for the last two months or so, ever since I found out or had the inkling that I was possibly going to get a new deal. I have been sat down with my girlfriend and my family and trying to discuss what would be the best outcome, for not just my football but also for the family as well. Unfortunately last season I spent a lot of time away from my new daughter. I was saying to the paper earlier that I think one week I was away five nights out of seven, and I know that is the nature of the job but if I can cut that down and spend more time with my family then I think I owe them that.
TB
That is definitely understandable, on a footballing level though was it because Carlisle didn't quite make the play-offs this season?
TT
No, nothing to do with that, as I said before, since I have arrived at the club we have only gone upwards. That has massively helped my football, I was definitely not a top eight/ten clubs player in League One when I first arrived and the gradual increase in the quality of our team and in the performances has helped me to grow as a player as well. So, it is nothing to do with where we have finished because I am more than confident that the club will be fighting for promotion again next season.
TB
Has there been any interest from any other clubs who are coming in for you? Any discussions yet?
TT
Little rumours and little bits of interest here and there but nothing concrete. As I stressed to the manager (Greg Abbott), it is not a case of I am leaving because I just want to leave, it is really based on family decisions and trying to be closer and in touch with the new addition to the family and being a good parent and a good role model. Because, it is unfair to put the workload on one person, especially with something as demanding as a four month old baby.
TB
Definitely, and is it through your agent that any negotiations would start? So, is he out there looking for a club for you at the moment?
TT
Yeah, people will get in contact with him and he will be in touch with other clubs that he thinks would suit me and suit the way I play. So, I leave that very much down to him. Admittedly all the discussions regarding contracts were face to face with the manager, I think I met him two to three times and we had some really decent conversations because we have got a good relationship. He has been very good to me and helped me massively throughout my career so far. I think we worked it out the other day that he has been actively in my career for the last 12 years, so I have got a lot that I owe to him and also to the football club and the fans.
TB
I know you have been around to Greg Abbott's house actually a couple of times in recent weeks, could you describe that relationship with him and how much have you enjoyed playing under Greg?
TT
At times we have had our disagreements but it is only because we both care about ourselves and also the football club. One thing we have always been is honest with each other and it has never affected our working relationship. Some of the boys used to laugh and take the mick saying that the manager was like my Dad. Basically because we were close, we did get on well and then at times we would not have a fallout but we would have a heated discussion. Then afterwards you would see him walking over to the training pitch with his arm around me and us laughing and joking. So, we had a very good relationship where we could speak honestly and nothing was held in bad blood.
TB
Looking to the future, are you looking for a move to the Championship?
TT
I am just looking for a move where it suits me best for my family, if that means the Championship and a move that means that I can spend a lot of time with my family then that would be the ideal. Then anything after that is obviously a bonus because I appreciate that at the moment it is tough to get a job in any profession, especially football. There are a lot of out contract players that are good quality players, so I am fighting against those kind of people and I will just be grateful for whatever really comes my way.
TB
Ideally is it Yorkshire that you are looking to move to if you could?
TT
Ideally, just somewhere close, I mean a round trip to Carlisle for myself is five hours, and last year I thought I owed, well I definitely owed it to the club to be fresh and to be right and to be rested. So, I did spend a lot of my time staying in Carlisle with some of the boys but on my own away from the family. That is where my decision came, when I was spending those kind of nights and my girlfriend would be sending me pictures of my daughter I thought I can't really miss out on this you know. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see your child grow up, so I made that conscious decision.
TB
Was there ever the option to actually move your family up to Cumbria?
TT
In all honesty with the current situation, the current climate, I have got a house in Leeds which I have had on the market for quite a while actually trying to sell that. Because, that has not been possible that has made it even more difficult to move anywhere, so that is why I have been trying to look more close to home.