Carlisle United caretaker managers on Greg Abbott's help

Rudd, Mark Birch and Jamie Devitt are in interim charge but have also been calling on the experience of head of recruitment Abbott, the former Blues manager.

Abbott has played his part on the training ground in the days since Simpson’s departure, as the caretaker trio have been preparing for their first games in charge.

Rudd says Abbott’s help has been invaluable.

“Greg's been fantastic,” Rudd said. “He came in on Monday and he came out on the training pitch, because he has got that enthusiasm, he knows these players, he knows this club and he's been a Football League manager.

“We were talking as a three [on Monday] and he would ask us questions - more to just challenge and check, to make sure this was right, did we believe in what we were doing.

“Greg's been a great shoulder to have around, to ask questions and advice. He’s been a very successful manager. In terms of advice, guidance and support, he'll do as little or as much as we need. He's been excellent.”

Abbott’s own role appears safe with owner Tom Piatak saying he was happy with how the recruitment department has been operating, in spite of the poor results that cost Simpson his job.

The caretaker trio are now preparing for their first league game at the helm – a trip to Abbott's former club Bradford City on Saturday.

It is a big stage for the interim regime to seek an improvement in results but Rudd spoke positively about the challenge.

“We’ve got players to go there and win, and that's what we'll be aiming to do,” he said.

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“We’ve watched them, we'll have a plan, we'll get organised, we'll give our lads the information, and they’ll be ready to go at 3pm on Saturday. They'll know what's expected.

“It's a great occasion, it's live on Sky, and you have to just embrace that challenge. We want to put on a good performance that replicates the club, the city, and to do that in front of that bigger crowd.

United face Bradford at Valley Parade for the first time since May 2023's play-off encounters (Image: Richard Parkes)

“We're going there to upset them, and we're going there to win the game, for our supporters and the club, and get some positivity going that can then start to build.”

Rudd and his fellow caretakers moved away from Simpson’s favoured 3-5-2 for their first game on Tuesday night against Nottingham Forest’s Under-21s in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.

They reverted to 4-3-3 for the 2-1 group stage defeat.

Asked about the tactical switch, Rudd said: “It was for two reasons, really.

“We haven't just come in to make the change, we looked at our personnel available, who we could play, who we couldn't play, who was a risk if they played and then we watched a couple of Forest's games and we just thought the best way to go, the best chance of winning this match, was to go with this, with our personnel.

“Because we want to play attacking dominant football and to get Dominic [Sadi] and Daniel [Adu-Adjei] in the team, along with Luke Armstrong and things like that – so we made a decision based on personnel and opposition.”

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Rudd says he, Birch and Devitt will do the caretaker role for as long as the club requires, though all three have their ultimate sights on returning to their academy roles. Rudd is academy manager with Birch under-18s manager and Devitt the recently-appointed under-18s coach.

“[What happened on Saturday] was the last thing we expected, it hadn't been considered. But now we're given the opportunity, we'll do our best,” he said.

“We'll definitely try and help the lads, help the club, we're more than happy doing that, but the important thing is that we do this properly, this period, however long it is, for the lads, for the club.

“It's our job, we have to do it – whether we agree with it or disagree with it, it's our job.

“We’ve lost a game, which is very disappointing, but we're here now to get something at Bradford.

“We need more points on the board on Saturday night than what we're currently on, so we know that is our job now.”

United are hoping to start a turnaround in form when they take on the Bantams (Image: Richard Parkes)

Rudd said the three-man caretaker team all bring different traits to the role.

“I think that's the biggest positive between the three of us,” said the former Workington Reds No2.

“Training wise we all take bits and share bits. On Tuesday I had the pre-match meeting with the lads, gave them all the information on us and them, went through that clearly, presented it, made sure they understood.

“Then Birchy and Dev were the more dominant ones on the pitchside.

“Our strengths are all probably different things and that bodes well, but we're giving the lads the same message in three different ways, so it's not different messages, it's the same message with different voices, different enthusiasms, so hopefully it helps them and is beneficial to them.”

Rudd was also keen to pay tribute to departing boss Simpson and the coaches who also left with the manager – Gavin Skelton, Billy Barr, Jake Simpson and Geoff Haugh.

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“The staff were absolutely fantastic, with myself personally, as an academy manager,” he said.

“If I needed anything or needed advice, from Paul, Gav, Billy, Jake, they were all very supportive.

“Paul came and did our induction evenings for the academy players, they were all fully supportive of it, and when you know you've got people like that supporting you, it makes your job a lot easier.

“I can't thank them all enough. When you put yourself in the industry, you know that at some point [things like this] could happen, and I've learnt that massively this week – you're sailing through in the academy, and it comes out of the blue.

Steven Rudd (Image: Barbara Abbott)

“They were fantastic to work with, to work under. I hope we supported them as much as we could. I thank them for the support and help that they've given me, not just personally, but the academy, since I've started in my role.”

Rudd says he and his colleagues will embrace the current position as much as they can.

“It’s come around in a way none of us would have wanted, but we see this as an opportunity for us three to gain more knowledge, experience, to better ourselves, challenge ourselves,” he said.

“We’ve all openly said we want to go back to the academy, that's where we see ourselves going, but however long we're asked to do this for, we'll do it properly, we'll do it professionally, we'll do it as best we can, and we want to get a couple of results for the club.”