Carlisle United's long-serving kitman set to leave club

Manager Paul Simpson said Nixon, a well-known member of the backroom staff for several years, will retire at the end of the season.

United are advertising for a new kit manager and Simpson said there would be a “transitional period” for the new person at Brunton Park.

Nixon, brother of Blues co-owner John, has been kitman for about 13 years.

Known by many as "Kit Man Col", he is commonly regarded as one of the friendliest faces around Brunton Park and has worked under a host of managers.

Simpson said he instigated the discussion over Nixon’s future.

“We had a conversation and I asked Col what are his plans for the future,” said Simpson.

• Blues boss confirms defender injury blow

“You can’t carry on forever, there’s got to be a transition period, he’s had a think and he’s decided he wants to retire at the end of this season.

Nixon, pictured in 2016, has been United's kitman for 14 years and has worked under a host of managers (Image: David Hollins)

“So we need to be in a position that somebody comes in and knows the job.

“We’ve got Deano [Dean Scholey] helping him at the moment but Deano has another job and he can’t do it full time.

• In pictures: Gibson's hat-trick heroics for Blues at Bolton

“We’ve got Emma and Karen who work in the laundry and do a brilliant job, helping Colin, so we need the right person to come in – somebody who knows how to do the job and can learn how to do it, somebody who can be trustworthy and somebody who’s the right person to fit into our staff that we’ve got.

“That will all evolve over the season and we see where we go from there.”

United advertised the position last week, explaining the role is “to manage all aspects of kit and equipment for first team and academy professional development phase, players, coaches and football staff.”

The job advert added: “Working alongside the club’s laundry staff, the role will include ordering, printing and distributing kit, managing the packing and transportation of kit and equipment for fixtures and tours, preparing all match kits in accordance with match regulations and assisting with inventory control throughout the season.”

The closing date for applications is October 27.