Carlisle United manager: Some League Two clubs are offering 'scary' money to players

The manager says some clubs not of the Blues’ size are handing out lavish deals.

Simpson, whose side play their second pre-season friendly at Kendal Town tonight, insisted he was not “complaining” about United’s own budget status.

But he said that talks in the transfer market this summer had shown him how some outfits were being “stupid” with the levels of finance they were offering targets.

Simpson said it had “surprised” him and added: “I can’t believe how crazy clubs are going. The level of money they’re offering, is actually quite frightening.

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“I’ve asked this question to John [Nixon, United co-owner] and Nigel [Clibbens, chief executive]. I keep moaning to Nigel about it – where does this Financial Fair Play come into the reckoning here?

“I’m hearing not only what League Two clubs are offering but what National League clubs are offering to players.

“It’s absolutely scary. This isn’t me complaining, because I’ve been told what the budget is here, I know that. I know we don’t have a secret money tree somewhere down in Denton Holme or anywhere.

“But I’m really surprised how clubs not of the size that I think we are, who are just being stupid with the money that they’re spending.”

Simpson, when making the comments at a recent fans’ forum, referred to United's opening-day opponents Crawley Town as well as Stevenage and Salford City.

He said clubs were offering “outrageous” deals to tempt some players Carlisle could have been interested in.

Referring to the financial muscle of some rivals compared with the Blues, Simpson added: “You look at clubs like Bradford City – they’ve made nine or ten signings. Some bloody good ones as well, players who I would have been interested in signing but we couldn’t compete.

“I know what Crawley are talking about spending on players, I know what Stevenage have spent on players, I know what Salford City are spending on players.

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“There’s players there we have discussed. But it’s outrageous the sort of level of salaries they’re putting into players.”

Simpson cited Stevenage - managed by Steve Evans - as one of the clubs splashing the cash (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Carlisle have made five summer signings so far and are keen to do more business.

Simpson described the job facing him at Brunton Park as one that cannot be sorted in a single transfer window.

He also conceded that Carlisle’s budget would not be in the top half of League Two’s spenders, but that he and his colleagues would work hard to make the most of what they had.

“I always think at the end of the season the league table generally reflects where your budget is in terms of it,” he added.

“I don’t think we’re going to be in the top half of the table in terms of budget. That’s going off what I’ve been told of offers other clubs are making.

“Clubs with no football history, clubs with not the size of us, not the gates we’re getting…I don’t know how they’re doing it.

“But we’ll work with what we’ve got. I want to be competing at the top end of the table but what I’ve also said is I don’t see there being an overnight fix here.

“This isn’t me trying to give myself breathing space to stay in the job as long as possible. I want to stay in the job as long as possible…[and] this is going to take a few transfer windows to make this whole squad evolve.

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“What I have to do as the manager, and as a group of staff and players, is get results short-term to allow me to have a medium and long-term future at the club.

“I want to be competing in the top half of the table but until the season starts and we get probably 12 games in, I won’t know what everybody else is doing.

“Let’s wait and see where we are. I don’t think anyone here wants to do what we did last year [a relegation battle]. We want to be competing at the right end.

“If we’re doing that it will get more supporters coming in, it will create more finances for the club, it will help us get better and stronger going forward.”