As for McDaid, last summer he was surprisingly awarded a new one-year deal at the Keepmoat Stadium despite being in the midst of a series of knee operations to cure a dislocated knee he suffered in a training match in May 2008. McDaid missing in first-team action from a substitute appearance in April 2008 to another substitute appearance 20 months later in January of this year.
McDaid, with his injury troubles and a struggle to get back into the Doncaster side, having only started two games for Rovers since the end of December 2007. Before that though, in the seasons of 2005-06 and 2006-07 he was pretty much a mainstay in the Doncaster side, those campaigns contributing well to his overall total of 81 starts, 16 substitute appearances and one goal with Rovers.
Before joining Doncaster in the summer of 2005 McDaid, who has represented Scotland at every age group to under-19 level, came through the Leeds United Academy before failing to be offered a professional contract with the Elland Road outfit. The Harrogate-born left-back, who can play on that side of the midfield as well, also having trials with Barnsley at that time.
Now at Brunton Park McDaid takes the place of released ex-Blues defender Evan Horwood and joins Carlisle on a one-year deal, with the option of a further 12-month contract should he make 30 starts for the Cumbrians next season. McDaid, no doubt wanting to make a fresh start and get back to the form that saw him win the Player's Player of the Year and the Doncaster Rovers Young Player of the Year in the 2005-06 campaign.
McDaid himself commenting to BBC Radio Cumbria on his move to Brunton Park :
" When I was at Leeds United for ten years before I went to Doncaster, the gaffer (Greg Abbott) was one of the youth coaches there. We got on well then and he has gone on to good things here and I obviously went to Doncaster and I am just glad to be working under him again and hopefully we can do well.
" I think the gaffer was one of the first people I spoke to as soon as I decided that I wanted to leave Doncaster. As soon as I had my first conversation with him about the ambition of the club and where he wanted to take the club, I think that sold it to me straight away. So as soon as I had had one or two meetings with him my mind was already sewn up that I wanted to come here. "