We have been informed this morning that neither Karl Hawley or Peter Murphy have accepted the substantially improved contract offers made by the club. The Directors, and Carlisle United, wish to thank both players for their valuable and substantial contribution whilst playing here, and acknowledge that their efforts have greatly helped in the re-emergence of better times at Brunton Park.
Clearly, for all concerned, we now need to move on, and Neil McDonald now has a clearer picture of his needs for the coming season, and can concentrate his efforts in that area.
Both players will obviously be missed at the club and their departure now leaves United staring down the barrel of needing at least seven or eight new signings for next season. In my opinion replacing centre-half Murphy, who made a mammoth 276 appearances in a Blue shirt won't be as difficult as replacing a goalscorer like Hawley, the Walsall-born hitman having scored 53 goals in 139 games for Carlisle. It certainly promises to be an interesting summer through the in-door at Brunton Park that's for sure.