“I have to say – and I mean this, hand on heart – it was really humbling, the way people were with me,” says Billy Barr as he reflects on his return to Carlisle United after nearly two decades away.
The events of 2006, when Barr followed a certain Paul Simpson to Preston North End, might seem a lifetime ago, yet the coach was still reassured by the welcome he received when Simpson, in his second United spell, picked up the phone to Barr and asked for his help.
“It's been nearly 18 years since I was here, and it's always nice to come back to somewhere and see those familiar faces in the club, the fans as well. I’m really happy, and really excited.”
Barr’s return as first-team coach in February renewed a long association with the Blues which began as a player in 1997 and continued onto the coaching staff at youth and first-team level before he left in 2006.
Simpson believed the 55-year-old’s coaching acumen could prove a catalyst for improvement in a squad that was floundering in League One last season. The move did not avert relegation but United’s manager felt Barr’s work was still impactful.
It was no surprise, then, that Simpson sought to extend the arrangement into 2024/25. Barr’s retention – he is now joint assistant manager alongside Gavin Skelton – was rarely I doubt.
“I spoke with the gaffer before the end of the season, and it was just a matter of the contract coming over and signing it, really,” Barr says. “I was happy to sign it, happy to come back and hopefully now we can have another successful season for Carlisle United.”
Barr’s previous season with the Blues, 2005/06, saw United win the League Two title under Simpson. As player and coach he had experienced campaigns of success and strife. As a more experienced figure today, he has still been far from immune to football’s emotional extremes.
Asked how the Barr of today differs to the 2006 version, he says: “He's 18 years older. He's suffered within the game as well.
“I've had periods where I've been out of work for long times. But the times that you're in work, I recognise I'm fortunate to be able to be employed in the job that I've always wanted to do.
“I hope some of the players are also humble enough to realise that half the world would love to do what they're doing. [My message to them] is to take that chance, show people what you can do and, ultimately, we want everybody to move from this club to a better club, but for a good price for our club.
“We want to see careers progress. It’s rewarding when you see that in people you’ve worked. For example, Adam Wharton going to the World Cup. I worked partly with him [at Blackburn Rovers]. What a talent – and it's great to see from a distance somebody getting an opportunity and actually taking it.”
United are hoping to take their chance in League Two with a remodelled squad after last season’s nosedive. The psychological aspect of this, amongst the players who were part of 2023/24’s struggles, will be key.
Barr says there are no signs so far of a hangover and this must remain the case. “I think it's a fresh start,” he says.
“If you go back just two years, we were [in winning League Two promotion in 2022/23]. Last year we were going into a league where the team was weaker than the one that won at Wembley, and it was always going to be hard.
“It's alright saying the [Piatak] takeover came through and January came at a good time, but we were still playing catch-up and it's hard for players to come in and just gel with the team.
“So, it's a fresh start now. We look back to the positives, we look forward to what we want to do and achieve and how we're going to do it.”
What, in the end, were the “positives” from such a difficult campaign?
“Positives from some performances – and the one that springs to mind most is Peterborough away [Carlisle’s 3-1 Easter victory].
“Unfortunately, we didn't have home victories, but we had a few away victories. Some of the defeats were really close, so we've competed against some really good teams.
“The obvious thing is we need to concede less goals. That's the biggest thing of all, but you defend from the front, so if we can get the ball back quickly at the top, then it's going to give us more opportunity scoring goals as well.
“There are a few different things we've spoken about as a staff. At this time of pre-season, it’s about implementing everything into our style of play so that whichever player is picked, from game one, two, three, four all the way through, knows exactly what they're doing within the team ethic.”
Barr says his own role is not dramatically different despite his change of title. “I’ll work the way I do, the way I did last year,” he says.
“It's fortunate that I've known Gav a long time. Gav was my apprentice when I first came up here as a player. So we've kept in contact ever since.
“Honestly, it was easy coming back, knowing the people. It wasn't as if I had to come in and build relationships in the staff room.”
Barr’s periods at Carlisle have put him into contact with different owners, from Michael Knighton to Fred Story and now the Piataks. It’s fair to say he has seen plenty of what the game can offer in that respect but there is the prospect of dramatic improvement at Carlisle under their American leaders now.
“I’m really impressed with them as people – honest genuine people,” says Barr.
“I’ve only had a couple of dealings with them so far, but I think it's there for everyone to see. You look round [Brunton Park] and see the work that's going on…they've not come in, spoken about doing things then sat back on it.
“They've done it and they need credit for that. because it's needed changing for a long time, the ground. It's needed updating.
“There's money to spend on the playing side as well which probably is different to what's happened over the last 18 years since I've been away.”
United have made six signings so far this summer and appear to be regarded as one of the clubs in League Two pushing the envelope in terms of their recruitment efforts and wherewithal – not, says Barr, that this offers simple guarantees.
“First, it [next season] is going to be hard because there's a lot of people recruiting well in the league,” he says. “It's hard to get players to Carlisle.
“We've got some good players in already and we're trying to get more in, but a lot of people see it as the end of the earth.
“We're in a good position where we can maybe change people's minds there with the takeover and a little bit more money.
“We just have to concentrate on what we have in the building and get the best out of them. When I first came in, all I said was, ‘Be the best version of yourself on a daily basis and if you do that, then great. If you don't, you're giving somebody else an opportunity to take your place’.
“For each player, it’s up to them to use whatever tool they want, but ultimately it’s about us having success with a hard-working, well-drilled group that are fighting for each other.”
With all the changes under way at Brunton Park and the promise of more to come, a tantalising new era is within reach – yet things must also follow on the pitch in order for the Piatak tenure to flourish. Barr would love to be part of newly successful times at United.
“You have to give the old owners credit for keeping the club going,” he says. “Now, it’s new times, exciting times and I just hope that we get some success for the owners that are ploughing all that money in so that they see that it's worthwhile.
“Hopefully it's the start of a new era at Carlisle United and we can take the club to a different level, and then maintain it at that level.”
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