Carlisle United's newly-created role of a sporting director will be "very different" to the club's previous director of football position.

That is according to club directors, who have commented on the off-field restructure taking place at Brunton Park.

After the departure of Paul Simpson as manager, United owner Tom Piatak confirmed that the Blues would be recruiting a sporting director to oversee footballing matters, as well as a new head coach.

The aim to bring in a sporting director sees United revert to the kind of off-field position previously held at Brunton Park by David Holdsworth.

He was director of football from 2018 to 2022 after being brought in during the period when former backers Edinburgh Woollen Mill were having an increased financial say at Brunton Park.

United did not advertise for the position which Holdsworth filled, while they did not replace him after his departure in February 2022.

The new sporting director will help implement a "specific style of play and clear football identity", according to the United hierarchy, adding that the role will differ from how the DOF position operated previously

Comments in the recent Carlisle United Supporters' Groups meeting saw fan representatives question club bosses on Piatak's recent insistence on a certain "style of play".

Tom Piatak, far right, wants to see a certain 'style of play' take hold at UnitedTom Piatak, far right, wants to see a certain 'style of play' take hold at United (Image: Richard Parkes)

This was not, the club stressed, any suggestion that Piatak was dictating systems or formations himself.

Supporters' trust director Matt Spooner told the meeting that "Tom clearly does not see himself as a football expert but can identify good, exciting or dull play on the field, like fans can.

"He wants to set basic standards for the type of play the club will adopt.

"The new Sporting Director will have a very different remit and it will be a very different appointment to the previous director of football role."

Nigel Clibbens, the chief executive, added that "style of play has been at the forefront of recent discussions" at the club.

Clibbens also "stressed that the club wanted to adopt a specific style of play and clear football identity, and delivering this would be a key part of the remit of the new sporting director and head coach roles", the CUSG minutes added.

The chief executive said United would be seeking to appoint "someone with prior experience" to the sporting director role.

He added that the model the Blues are looking to put in place "has already been employed by many other clubs, even most in League Two and some in the National League."