Paul Simpson: former Carlisle United players are always welcome here

The Blues boss recently invited former skipper and current Workington Reds boss Danny Grainger into the club to watch training.

It follows other occasions recently when players who have worn the United shirt have been made welcome behind the scenes.

Simpson says it is important the Blues always give a warm reception to those who have represented the club in the past.

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And he said that will always be the case as long as he is the United manager.

“This is something I picked up when I first came back in 2003,” Simpson said.

“I was really surprised that ex-players, people who’d represented Carlisle, weren’t welcome at the football club.

“I said, ‘No – you’re part of the history of this club, you're welcome to come in’.

“[From there] the old players were welcome to come in and sit and have a cup of tea or coffee with us and a chat, and we had to make them feel welcome.

Former United favourites Tot Winstanley, left, and Michael Bridges, right, have spent time with Simmo in recent months (Image: Stuart Walker Photography / Jamie Crossan)

“This season Danny’s come in and watched us training, Michael Bridges came in, and Tot Winstanley came in one day, who’s having a bit of a tough time at the moment with his health.

“I said for him to come in, and he came and watched training one day and loved it, and he came back for a game a few weeks after.

“We have to help these people, if they need to keep themselves occupied.”

Simpson said he is happy to offer any help he can to former United players who are making their own way in off-field roles.

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Grainger is in his second spell as Workington boss, while Bridges is hoping to carve out a coaching/managerial career back in England, having recently returned from Australia.

“People like Danny and Bridgey who are starting out on their coaching career…I don’t profess to be able to give them pearls of wisdom but it’s just seeing what goes on inside a professional club that hopefully they’ll benefit from,” said the Blues boss, speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria.

“If he picks up one tiny thing he’s seen us doing, hopefully it’ll help him progress in his own career.”