Paul Simpson is immediately turning his mind to the challenge of building a Carlisle United side to compete in League One.

The promotion-winning Blues boss is preparing for the “horrible” side of his job as he prepares to inform which players he is keeping – and which are being released.

That will form the first part of Simpson’s attempt to equip United for the challenge of the third tier.

He said he will stop at nothing in his desire to keep improving the promoted Cumbrians.

“The work will now start again – we’ve got meetings with players in terms of retained and released, which is a horrible side of football,” he said.

“We have to keep moving this club forward. We’ve got to keep making it better.

“Everybody has worked incredibly hard, absolutely incredibly hard to get us where we are today.

“There’s now more work to come – [although] it’s silly to say ‘work’ because this isn’t a job, it’s a passion, this is a life we choose. We can all enjoy it when you get days like this.”

Carlisle can look forward to League One occasions against clubs like Derby County and Blackpool – two of Simpson’s former clubs.

He said he had not contemplated the kind of opposition the Blues could face until they had got over the promotion line.

“I know we’ve still got a hell of a long way to go where we can be considered a League One club,” he said after Sunday’s victory over Stockport County at Wembley.

“We’ve got ourselves into League One, now we have to put a group together that can actually stay there. That’s the challenge for us now.

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“It’s a huge step. What a fantastic step to make, what a great challenge to look forward to.

“Gav Skelton, who’s been brilliant for me as my assistant, said the other day, ‘Have you looked at the League One table to see who we could play?’

“I haven’t. All I know is Derby County are there and I’ll look forward to going back to Pride Park but I don’t know who else is in there.

“I said I don’t want to do it, I want to get over the line first…and I’ll have a look when I sober up after tonight.

“It’s a great thing to look forward to. I’m looking forward to a holiday but I’m sure Jacqui, my wife, knows it’s gonna be a working holiday now – but it's something to look forward to.”