New Carlisle United boss: What I've learned so far

The Blues boss has been at the helm for seven days as he prepares for his first home game this weekend.

Williamson’s first full week on the training ground has come ahead of Saturday’s visit of Grimsby Town, as Carlisle look to build on their win at Swindon Town in the head coach’s first game.

Recent days have allowed the new boss to bed in to his new environment, and he told the News & Star: “I've learned that we've got a very honest, hard-working group of players – a group of players that want to take things on board and they'll give everything to this football club, and staff of the same mentality as well.

“That for me is the bedrock, that's what's really important and the process will keep improving, but essentially it's based off excellent values and that's what we want to keep working with, and then that will help to speed up the process.”

While Williamson has now met many of the club’s staff, his focus has been very much on the training ground as United attempt to make short-term progress away from the wrong end of League Two.

They are 22nd after their first seven games but the Swindon win put them in closer touch with many of the sides above them.

On the training focus this week, the new head coach said: “We've prioritised everything – you've got the in-possession [work] out-of-possession, the transition, and set-pieces.

“It was two set-pieces – one a first phase, one the second phase – that got us the win [at Swindon], so you can see how important that is.

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“In transition we've got lads that want to run and they want to graft, which is important, but really it's just us putting the reins on them a little bit and trying to use the energy more effectively.

“But you saw the resilience, especially in the second half of that defensive display. We've got experienced lads and lads that can sense and snuff out danger, which is important, and we've just got to keep helping the boys to give them solutions when we're on the pitch in possession.”

Williamson says he is delighted with how the players have responded to himself and his coaching team as they set about their work at Brunton Park.

“It’s been massive,” he said. “The boys have been brilliant, generally.

“I'm guessing every manager says it, when they come in they want to make that good impression, but generally you can feel the humanness of these guys and a desire to work hard.

Williamson says he has been delighted by the response of the players so far (Image: Richard Parkes)

“From day one, since we've come in, even the first session that we didn't take, you could just see the enthusiasm and the energy. People really wanted to run and fight, and that's a pleasure to see.”

Williamson accepted that the Swindon win has given him positive decisions to make in terms of selection for this weekend’s home clash with Grimsby Town.

“That’s the hard thing, coming in and having a day or two to assess the situation and trying to speak to the lads about things,” said Paul Simpson's successor.

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“Everyone's going to get that opportunity, everyone's going to get that chance. We've obviously got Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday games now, which is going to be tough demands physically, but everyone's going to get a good amount of football.

“It's about being patient, but also lads want to play, and you don't want to take that away from them.

“I want them to make it difficult for myself and pose hard problems, but we've got plenty of football coming up, so there'll be plenty of opportunity.”

On his bid to get to know the wider workforce at Brunton Park, meanwhile, Williamson said: “I've probably not met everybody yet I'd like to spend some time and build relationships and meet everybody, but that's going to take time.

“The hardest thing when you come in mid-season is that, ultimately, we need to win, we need to win at the weekend.

“There are so many things to assess and to face, but at this moment it's really trying to keep to the main thing, and prepare the lads the best we possibly can, and give them as much detail as we can, to give us the best chance of getting three points on Saturday.”