This is the deal. It can’t be ‘Simmo Is Our King’ and ‘In Simmo We Trust’, and then wondering if the man’s lost his marbles when it comes to breaking up the fifth worst squad in the Football League.
Yes, there are one or two calls that raise eyebrows. No, Mark Howard could not have done more for Carlisle United yet still finds himself released.
Yes, the goalkeeper deserves to go with maximum gratitude. And no – that was surely far from an easy call by any stretch.
But still. Come on. Has anyone in Carlisle United’s recent managerial history earned more trust to make these decisions than Paul David Simpson?
Do we gaze at his outstanding work since late February and place maximum faith in the process now, or do we wobble?
Surely it’s the former, with bells on. The last two-and-a-bit months have been the early stages in overhauling Carlisle United as a football entity. Today’s retained and released list is the next. Many more await.
Simpson, as he told the awards night audience at the Halston last night, is here not just to manage but to guide the club. He’s here to embed himself back in Carlisle.
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He is the gift, since February 23, that has kept on giving. And so, if he’s released someone you would have kept, or offered something to someone you’d have chased, more than ever the right response should be: let’s back him.
Let’s have all the conviction in the world that Simmo has this right, that he knows what he’s doing. That he’s a man with a plan.
Who else, after all, would you have supported to do this better? Exactly.
In Howard’s case, it’s fair that there is a strong amount of sympathy. Without the experienced keeper, Carlisle would have been much worse than fifth bottom in the EFL.
Their decline could have been terminal, irreversible even by Simpson. At their worst, he brought his best. His reliability, experience and composure were essential to a young and broken side.
There would have been an easy case to make for retaining Howard, who remains in good shape and is, according to coach Paul Gerrard, the ultimate pro. Simpson’s decision to release him, but retain Magnus Norman, suggests the manager has a fresh No1 in mind.
Whoever that may be will have a difficult act to follow. Again, though – let’s entrust Simmo with finding such a figure.
Others released are perhaps less debatable. Lewis Alessandra deserves to be remembered well for raising the tone of United’s attacking game-smarts and also being a consistent and humble professional in all senses. His goals record and age perhaps goes against him now as the Blues look to push on.
Rod McDonald was a perfectly capable Carlisle centre-half, if never a completely dominant one, but Jon Mellish’s strong return to that left-sided position alongside the excellent, rising Morgan Feeney probably kiboshed his chances of an extension.
Danny Devine felt like one of those Blues midfield careers that was waiting to break out but never quite did so. Kelvin Mellor was a calming defensive head at a time of need, but one senses Simpson wants more thrust at right-back now – Jack Ellis and, eventually, Joel Senior may provide it.
Manasse Mampala was a trialist punt up front that seldom looked likely to pay off, other than in Pizza Trophy games. Gime Toure, after that bright start in 2020, ended up dribbling down too many blind alleys without end product.
In Jamie Devitt’s case, hopefully a canny and experienced player can come back for pre-season, should he accept the Blues’ invitation, and show he’s physically able to sustain a fresh run at United. His worth as a character to a dressing room like Carlisle’s is already beyond question. That particular decision could be a card well played by Simpson.
The activation of Feeney’s contract extension was surely the quickest stroke of the pen in all these judgements. As for the offers made, there are obvious grounds to see how the home-grown Taylor Charters has benefited from the hardened and successful experience of a loan with promoted Gateshead.
Joe Riley, particularly in the season’s latter stages, has shown enough for his claims not to be ignored. Brennan Dickenson has not lit up Brunton Park (although some of the online stick he gets isn't fair) but Simpson must back himself to bring out the apparent physical qualities and more of the versatility that tempted United to go for him in the first place, two years back.
Norman, this season’s starting No1, may have a decision to make bearing in mind another leading goalkeeping contender will surely come in. United also have high hopes for the two teenage glovemen, Gabe Breeze and Scott Simons.
The four offers have, from a distance, the feel of hunches being explored (and may also narrow down the sleuthing over who Simpson says has been “tapped up” by another club), but this is still going to be a considerable rebuild. The solid foundations of a better Carlisle team remain out there to be sourced, in a variety of positions.
It’s also hard to envisage some of those under contract having a central part next season. Correcting the errors of windows past was never, though, going to be a one-summer job. Some, you have to assume, will get a fresh look, at least in pre-season. Again, the manager deserves our confidence to make those calls.
It boils down to this. On February 23, directors entrusted the club’s short-term safety to a man with outstanding credentials. In no time at all it was blatantly obvious that he had to be given the longer-term job of dismantling Carlisle United and putting it back together with new strength and standing, as he did superbly first time around.
Simmo’s got this. If we don’t believe that now, what do we believe?
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