Caretaker Steven Rudd believes the next Carlisle United head coach will inherit players capable of turning the tide at Brunton Park.

The Blues sit third bottom of League Two after six games with the club on the brink of appointing a new boss.

MK Dons’ Mike Williamson is understood to be the man in United’s sights to replace Paul Simpson.

Rudd, along with Mark Birch and Jamie Devitt, have been in interim charge for the last two and a half weeks.

The new boss is expected to be in place in time for Saturday’s trip to Swindon Town and, asked what the next man in charge would inherit, academy manager Rudd said: “They're going to inherit a good group of individual players – they are good, professional players, there's no doubt about that.

“The ambitions of the club are excellent. Everything's set up for it to go and take off.

“What’s going to turn it around is going to be having an organisation and a set-up to let the team go and kick on.

“We can't concede three goals at home [as we did against Fleetwood Town on Saturday] and expect to get anything out of any game.

“It’s going to take a bit of confidence in the lads, a bit of belief, then momentum turns – and I just think with a couple of positive results, the whole mood around the place, the environment and the changing room will change and the lads will start believing at that point.”

Joint caretaker Steven RuddJoint caretaker Steven Rudd (Image: Martyn Haworth)

Rudd, Devitt and Birch have overseen the early period of training this week, having put plans in place for preparation ahead of the Swindon trip.

United owner Tom Piatak has said he expects the Blues to confirm their new head coach and sporting director before then.

Williamson yesterday emerged as the leading contender for the job with Blues chiefs understood to have been working on a deal to secure the ex-Gateshead manager’s services.

Williamson was in charge of MK Dons in their 2-1 Bristol Street Motors Trophy defeat at Colchester United last night.

He told reporters after the game that he had not heard of interest in his services, telling MK Today: "There's been speculation linking me to two or three or four jobs since I joined but I've not heard anything from it. I'm just focused on the boys and the performance"

But it's understood United are still aiming to seal a deal to secure Williamson. MD sporting director Liam Sweeting is also being linked with the Blues.