Chris Beech says it is not an immediate “necessity” for Carlisle United to replace departed first-team coach Nathan Rooney.

The Blues boss suggested bringing in another pair of hands on the training ground was "possible", but unlikely in the short term.

Rooney returned to Fleetwood last week after an unusual “loan” arrangement had seen him at United since the summer.

Beech said Rooney had been “excellent” and had worked hard for the club, but had found it difficult juggling positions at two clubs.

Asked if there was a case for another coach in the short-term, Beech said: “It’s a possibility, but I feel that with only 17-18 fit players at the moment, it’s not a necessity.

“There’s me, Gav [Skelton], Dave [Waldie], Dolly [physio Neil Dalton] is there and Craig [Wight] the goalkeeping coach. It’s pretty much covered.

“If everybody was fit it might be more of a challenge. At the moment it’s fine, but we do need to build other departments to support the first team.”

Beech admitted the loan situation involving Rooney is not something he had come across in football before.

He did, though, praise the ex-Crawley No2 for his efforts at Carlisle.

Beech said: “From a personal point of view I found Nathan to be very respectful and very good at what he was doing.

“I think he’s got a situation at Fleetwood where they’re sort of the mother club, as such, in terms of owning his contract. He’s gone back because I think they’ve recalled him and offered a situation where he may progress there.

“I think he found it a bit difficult in terms of having a foot in two camps, and for him, getting up and down, not being available for certain days when we need to step up what we’re doing – I think he found that quite hard, speaking to him personally.

“He’s gone back there to pursue other opportunities.”

Rooney had been brought in by former boss Steven Pressley during pre-season.

Beech added: “It was set up previously to me coming in. He [Rooney] worked with the previous manager, and the previous manager has helped promote this situation, I suppose. I’ve never heard of a situation like this in my career.

“But it’s not for me to come in and just go, right, I’m not doing this. I found Nathan very respectful and he’s been excellent, he’s been watching a lot of lads for us and I tried to use him to the best of our ability in preparation for January.”

Beech has said that he would like to improve United in certain off-field areas, such as analysis, but is also focusing on the January transfer window.

He said: “I want to build situations that can help progress the club and development of players.

“We’re a little bit short in certain areas but we’ve got what we have and we’ve got to enhance what we are.

“While we’re doing that we’ve got to stay competitive, resilient and effective in the last third in terms of winning football matches. It will come together.”

In minutes from a members' meeting at the weekend, fans' trust CUOSC said "funds were available" at United to strengthen the squad in January.