Mike Williamson has expressed his thanks to former caretaker Steven Rudd for providing “continuity” on his first matchday as Carlisle United head coach.

Academy manager Rudd, who was part of a three-man interim team before Williamson’s appointment, was at Swindon Town with the new regime on Saturday.

New boss Williamson felt it was “important” to have one of the academy coaches with the Blues set-up so soon after his appointment.

Rudd joined Williamson and his new coaching staff Ian Watson, Chris Bell and Carl Magnay at the County Ground as the Blues claimed a welcome 2-0 win.

Paul Simpson’s successor said Rudd – as well as fellow former caretakers Mark Birch and Jamie Devitt – had played a valuable role in recent days.

“He [Rudd] has been brilliant. All of them have,” said Williamson.

“Since we've come in, they’ve been really keen to help us, support us – whatever we need, they're there.

“They took the first session and we were just kind of floating around.

Steven Rudd was in joint interim charge for three games before Williamson's appointmentSteven Rudd was in joint interim charge for three games before Williamson's appointment (Image: Richard Parkes)

“[Regarding Saturday], obviously they've got a packed academy schedule themselves, so they've been stretched and overworked.

“But I thought it was important to have one of them with us, for that continuity, I would say, and just for any little things that we might miss.

“He [Rudd] was here for us and I thought it worked really well.”

While Rudd was with the first team, Birch and Devitt returned to their regular duties with the Under-18 side.

The Blues youth team were in action against Walsall on Saturday where they were beaten 3-1.

After Simpson’s departure, Rudd, Birch and Devitt took charge of three first-team games – the 2-1 defeats to Nottingham Forest Under-21s and Bradford City, and the 3-2 defeat to Fleetwood Town.

The trio also set the training plans for most of last week before last Thursday’s appointment of Williamson, who is now preparing for his first home league game in charge against Grimsby Town on Saturday.