They are the new faces that make up Mike Williamson's backroom staff at Carlisle United.

Ian Watson, Chris Bell and Carl Magnay joined the new head coach for their first game with the Blues at Swindon Town.

The trio have followed Williamson from MK Dons, having also worked with the new Blues boss during his time at Gateshead.

IAN WATSON

Ian WatsonIan Watson (Image: Richard Parkes)

Watson has been Williamson's right-hand man throughout, the 38-year-old having played as a defender in non-league with clubs such as Whitley Bay, Blyth Spartans, Spennymoor Town and Darlington before moving into coaching.

He was initially strength and conditioning coach at Gateshead and worked under managers Malcolm Crosby, Neil Aspin and Steve Watson before stepping up as assistant manager under Ben Clark, then holding a similar role during Williamson's reigns at the International Stadium and then Stadium MK.

Williamson told the News & Star of Watson: “Ian is someone who's just obsessed with the football. It's his football. He hates not being on the ball, but he wants everything to be driven with an understanding and a reason."

CHRIS BELL

Chris BellChris Bell (Image: Richard Parkes)

Bell, another first-team coach new to the United ranks, has a background in physiotherapy having worked at Sunderland, Blyth Spartans and Gateshead as well as in the private medical sector plus at the Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA).

In more than four years at Gateshead he was first-team physio then head of performance, before following Williamson to MK Dons as first-team coach.

Speaking about Bell, Williamson said: “Chris is multifaceted. He oversees many things. He's like the glue that connects things.

"He's been a physio. He's got a psychology Masters degree. He's been on a coaching journey with us and he's got many strings to him.”

CARL MAGNAY

Carl MagnayCarl Magnay (Image: Richard Parkes)

Magnay, meanwhile, has plenty of experience in the game from his playing career which was kickstarted in intriguing circumstances.

Having had a youth spell at Leeds United as well as time in non-league, the Gateshead-born defender earned a contract with Chelsea in 2007 after winning the Sky One football talent show Football Icon.

He had loan spells at MK Dons and Northampton Town before a serious knee injury hindered his progress at Stamford Bridge. He moved on in 2011 and had two-and-a-half years with the north east club, later playing for Grimsby Town before four seasons at Hartlepool United.

The Northern Ireland Under-21 international went on to play for Spennymoor Town and Gateshead again before injury led to his retirement, at which point he was making the transition to coaching. He remained at Gateshead in Williamson's coaching staff and again followed the boss to MK Dons.

"Mags is very good. He's very full-on. He drives things," said Williamson. "He demands high standards. He's going to be very detailed in our possession and making sure that our distances are right and our structure is right and our press is right."