Carlisle United manager reveals key transfer decision

The Blues boss has suggested further additions before the January deadline are unlikely.

One area Simpson has given thought to is right wing-back, where Joel Senior is currently the only fit option.

Fin Back and Jack Ellis are out injured, but United’s boss told the News & Star he felt players already on the books could cover Senior in the short-term.

While Simpson has not completely ruled out other possibilities, he said: “I’m looking at other players we have in the group, trying different things in training.

“I do think with a little bit of work, we have players available who could come in and do that right wing-back role for us – even if it’s just for one or two games, just to try and take the load off Joel.

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“That’s something we’ll look at over the next few weeks.

“We’ve got players in mind if I do go and say to Greg [Abbott, head of recruitment], 'I want to do something now'.

“But I’m also conscious that Jack Ellis will hopefully be fit in a couple of weeks’ time. Then Fin Back possibly at the end of March-beginning of April.

Joel Senior recently returned to the first team (Image: Richard Parkes)

“What I don’t want to do is bring a player in and, although they might give us a short-term fix, I don’t want to mess them about and bring them in to sit twiddling their thumbs or blocking Jack or Joel’s pathway.

“I don’t want to start collecting players just for the sake of it to see us through two or three games.

“I think we need others who are already here to stand up to the plate and show me they can do the job as well.”

United have brought in four players this window in the form of loan trio Jack Robinson, Alfie McCalmont and John-Kymani Gordon, plus the permanent addition of Joe Garner.

Simpson said he was awaiting updated confirmation from directors on the latest budget position, but said: “I think we’re probably done.

“I’ve tried to work it with what we’ve had going out of the club; my understanding is I’m probably close to using all that money with what we’ve done.

“What I would say is the board are telling me if there are things I think will really help us, they’re prepared to go out of the way to find it, which is brilliant and what I want to hear.

“But I’m also fully conscious that I’m not going to fleece the club.”

Simpson has praised the backing he has received from directors (Image: Richard Parkes)

Simpson said United’s board have been “fantastic” with how they have backed him.

“They let me get on with the job, they let me do what I think is the right thing to do within the boundaries of the budget,” he added.

“In this particular window they’re saying, ‘If there are things you want to do, come and speak to us, give us a problem’.

“As it is I’ve kept them informed so far of what we’ve done but I don’t think we’ve given them a real problem.

“I might get a shock when I get this updated budgeting, but I think my calculations are we’re very close to what’s gone out.

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“Everybody wants a club to go and spend millions, unfortunately we don’t have it and I don’t think we ever have. We’ve got to be really sensible. Directors are doing everything they possibly can to help bring some success to us, and let’s hope it carries on that way.”

As in the summer, United again appear to have avoided the sort of last-minute frenzy witnessed in last January’s transfer window.

The Blues boss said he was pleased to have done Carlisle’s main business well before the deadline.

“I’m delighted, really pleased,” he said. “I think that’s the importance of having a good team of people around you.

“That’s what we’ve got here – Greg who leads it, three or four part time fellas who go out and do games for us up and down the country, the staff in the building with Gav [Skelton, assistant manager] and Jakey [Blain, analyst] and Gez [Paul Gerrard] and myself, we go out and watch games live when we can.

“I think it’s important to have good people around you. It doesn’t make life easy but it certainly makes it easier and gives you a chance to have a proper plan in place.

“We’re already looking at and planning for the summer. We can’t confirm everything but we’re looking ahead to what might be possible to do in the summer and where we are with our own group.

“The plans are already in place – to keep going, your group has to keep evolving and that’s what we want to keep trying to do.”

Simpson insisted United have not received enquiries or offers for any of his players.

He said the only potential outgoing business in mind could be a loan move for young keeper Gabe Breeze, and confirming the loan status of Max Kilsby and Lewis Bell, whose half-season loans at Annan Athletic and Gretna 2008 respectively will soon be up.

“Apart from that I think we’ll be keeping the group together unless I get any late calls to enquire about anybody,” added the Blues boss.

“The club are not telling me we need to get any players out, we don’t need to manoeuvre a bit for budgeting reasons.

“The only way anybody would be allowed to go is if I believe I can continue for the rest of the season without them, and also it’s better for their long-term futures.”