Sean Maguire has claimed Carlisle United’s style of play did not suit him as he reflected on his disappointing season with the Blues.

The Irish forward was one of eight players released by the Cumbrians at the end of the 2023/24 relegation season.

Former Preston North End and Coventry City man Maguire arrived at Brunton Park with high hopes on the eve of the campaign.

But after some bright early displays, he struggled to make a serious impact and managed only two goals all season.

Maguire, speaking to the Irish Independent about his time at Brunton Park, had praise for the fans of a “sleeping giant” club but says the way United played did not make the most of his traits.

​“I prefer to play as number nine,” he said.

“After that, I’d be happy as a number ten. But I was played right wing for a lot of the season just gone.

“That doesn’t really suit me. I didn’t have that conversation with the manager before I signed and the style of play didn’t suit me.

“That counter-attacking style [we used] didn’t suit me.”

Maguire made 35 appearances last season but the Republic of Ireland international found starts increasingly sparse in the second half of the campaign.

He also ended the season out of action because of an achilles problem.

News and Star: Maguire says he didn't discuss playing on the right wing with Paul Simpson before signingMaguire says he didn't discuss playing on the right wing with Paul Simpson before signing (Image: Barbara Abbott)

The experienced forward, 30, admits it was a tough campaign throughout as Carlisle slid to bottom position in League One and a return to the fourth tier.

“Jordan Gibson, was our top scorer with seven goals and some of them were penalties,” he said.

“That says a lot about the slog we had all season.”

Maguire, meanwhile, said that while he has already spoken to some clubs about a possible move, he is not rushing any decision.

That is because his top priority is the safe arrival of his child, with wife Claudia due to give birth next month.

It is a particularly poignant time for the couple because they lost a baby to an ectopic pregnancy last year. Maguire had angel wings tattooed onto his wrist and kissed the image after scoring his first Carlisle goal at Stevenage.

“I haven’t thought much about what’s next, as the baby is the priority,” he added.

“I will wait until the baby’s born, then think about it, but it’s family first. I had conversations with some clubs here [in England], but nowhere close to my home in Preston. I spoke to a few teams back home, but I told them the same, I will wait until the baby arrives.”

Maguire opened up about the ectopic pregnancy in a News & Star interview last autumn, and told the Irish Independent the experience highlights that the public do not always realise what players are going through.

“People are quick to judge players on how they are performing, but they don’t know what’s going on in the background. Fans can get on a player’s back when they are not doing well, and that is harsh,” he added.

“The Carlisle fans were good to me. It’s a sleeping giant of a club. They deserve to be in a better division than League Two.”