Paul Simpson spells out his plans to revamp Carlisle United's recruitment set-up

The Blues manager has identified the scouting side of the club as an area in need of urgent attention.

And Simpson said he has already had discussions with potential candidates for a new post at Brunton Park.

The United boss said recently that he was shocked at the lack of recruitment structure in place at the club – and he is keen to change that as soon as possible.

“The top and bottom is I want a head of recruitment. That’s the nuts and bolts of it,” he said.

“A head of recruitment who I would like to be somebody experienced.

“I have a few people in mind who I’m speaking to.”

Simpson, who this week signed a new three-year deal at Brunton Park, said the role of a recruitment chief can be crucial to his attempt to rebuild the Blues.

“I want that because then they can filter hosts of names that I don’t need to be concerning myself with, and make sure us as an immediate football staff are looking at the real targets and we can go about it that way,” he said.

“Rather than having reams of players, we can be a little bit more selective.

“I don’t need [the recruitment head] to be living in Carlisle, it’s not a job they need to be in the building here, or out seven nights a week watching games.

“In this wonderful world now where you can watch games on video, you can separate the not so good from the good ones and really target.

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“That’s my main priority, to get that, and then the immediate football staff in here will look at that and make sure we have a group of staff that I believe will take us forward.”

Simpson said the lack of a detailed recruitment set-up at the club at the moment means United have to play catch-up when it comes to the close-season market.

He added: “The main thing about your club is recruitment – we have to get the recruitment right.

Simpson talks to the media yesterday after news of his new United deal (photo: Barbara Abbott)

“Unfortunately we are starting a little bit behind because there’s nothing in place, but that doesn’t worry me.

“I’ve got to be really careful that I don’t try and solve every problem in one transfer window. I’ve got to try and do it slowly, slowly, just try and take some baby steps, make us better and keep us moving forward.

“I’d like to think in a few short months the players can be better.”

Simpson, having now been handed the permanent reins at United, will now oversee end-of-season decisions on the current squad including players coming to the end of their deals.

He also said Carlisle had to work as hard as possible to make the most of the transfer resources he will be allocated.

“I’m confident they [directors] are going to give me as good as they’ve got,” he said.

“I would be telling lies if I think I’m going expect to have the biggest budget in League Two next season. I wasn’t making those demands [in contract talks].

“I just said, ‘Let’s get a structure in place and try and work with as much as you can afford to give me in terms of the playing budget, to give us a fighting chance’.

“The budget is a budget that, if we work it properly, could get us into the top half of the table, and that’s where the challenge is.

“We have to maximise everything we’ve got, spend every penny wisely, that’s the job I’ve got along with Nigel [Clibbens, United’s chief executive] to make sure we try and do that.”

Simpson confirmed there would be “changes, without a doubt” to the playing staff and he plans to meet every member of the squad on Monday, May 9, two days after the final game of the season.

“There’s going to be conversations between myself, the other staff and probably Nigel who will have to go back to the board, and make sure we come up with a plan,” the manager added.

“It’s not going to be every single one of them going but there’s going to be changes.

“That’s normal at League Two level, we’ve got to accept that. It’s the horrible part of football but it’s the side of football if you’re daft enough to go into a management job you have to do it.”

Simpson, meanwhile, said United have lined up a number of pre-season friendlies and are waiting on final agreements on “four or five” summer fixtures, with the club also hoping to secure another.

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