Barrow AFC chairman Paul Hornby has responded to reports linking sporting director Iain Wood with Carlisle United by saying: He’s going nowhere.

The Bluebirds chief also cast doubt on the substance of reports claiming Carlisle were targeting Wood.

It was claimed by Football Insider that United were eyeing Wood for the sporting director position which is being created at Brunton Park.

The report came after the Blues, it’s understood, missed out on MK Dons’ Liam Sweeting for the role.

Hornby was asked about the Wood rumour by BBC Radio Cumbria but played down the idea that the Bluebirds man could join their Cumbrian League Two rivals.

Speaking on Friday, Hornby said: “We know bits about it. I’ll always be honest with supporters and Iain’s honest with us.

“He was contacted by a couple of agents. Whether that was Carlisle going by the back door…which I don’t think it would be.

“I know Tom Piatak [Carlisle’s owner] and he seems a straightforward guy. If he wanted Iain I think he’d have come through the front door.

“Usually, in the murky world of football, an agent will try and tap someone up and then take it to a club and say, ‘Listen, I’ve got Iain Wood from Barrow…’

“It’s the same response either way. Iain told us straight away, he’s not interested.

“It’s very rare in life you meet someone with old-fashioned morals in business, football. He knows myself, [and fellow owners Tony [Shearer] and Kris [Kristian Wilkes] took a punt on him, and he says, ‘I owe you guys a massive amount of respect for what you’ve done for me and I’d never leave you in the lurch.

“He said, ‘I’ve been at Barrow two-and-a-half years, why would I go to Carlisle? It’s your big rivals’. And the job’s only half done here.

“He’s happy. We’ve changed his life in terms of what we’ve done. He’s half an hour from the training ground…it ticks every box for him.

“He’s a close family friend of myself, Chris and Tony now. It’s a special relationship we have and, a million per cent, he’s going nowhere.”

United have not commented on their search for a sporting director since remarks by owner Tom Piatak on September 16United have not commented on their search for a sporting director since remarks by owner Tom Piatak on September 16 (Image: Richard Parkes)

Hornby added that Wood was on a “good, long-term contract” and claimed that any club interested in the sporting director would have to pay compensation that would “dwarf” what Bolton Wanderers paid for former Barrow manager Ian Evatt in 2020.

The Barrow chairman said: “You’re looking at a top-end League One or Championship club if anyone ever did come knocking.” He added that Wood’s role at Holker Street would soon be expanding.

United have not commented on the sporting director situation since comments from owner Piatak on September 16.

Then, the Blues owner said the club had identified the candidates they expected to appoint for both the sporting director and head coach vacancies.

Mike Williamson was duly appointed as head coach but the sporting director position remains unfilled, after claims that Sweeting had turned them down at the last minute to remain at Stadium MK.

The News & Star has this week approached United for an update on the situation.