New candidates emerge for Carlisle United sporting director

That is according to the club's chief executive Nigel Clibbens, who says the Blues are about to begin a fresh round of interviews.

Carlisle had hoped to appoint a sporting director last month but after being turned down at the last minute by their chosen candidate - believed to be MK Dons' Liam Sweeting - the Blues opted to put the matter "on the backburner" for several weeks, Clibbens said.

Some new names have now entered the running. In an interview with the club's official channel CUTV, Clibbens said: "We['ve] now started that process again, looking at people who have since come forward, since Mike's come in and we're advancing that.

"We're now in the process of getting ready to start those interviews again with our preferred candidates

“We're going to take our time, we're going to get the right person, someone who's totally aligned with where we want to go and we're confident we'll get that person.”

Clibbens said discussions would be held once United's owners, the Piataks, are back in the country. The American family are flying in ahead of this weekend's trip to AFC Wimbledon, which coincides with the visit of some officials and dignitaries from their home city of Jacksonville, Florida.

Interviews are set to begin with the Piataks flying back into the country (Image: Richard Parkes)

They are set to attend the Wimbledon game before a trip to Carlisle next week to coincide with the Blues' home game against Harrogate.

On the sporting director front, United have not named Sweeting as the man who turned them down.

Clibbens' in-house interview, though, confirmed that an individual had accepted the job only to perform a u-turn at the last minute.

The Blues chief executive said the candidate had "handed his notice in to his current club" only to change his mind four days later.

"It's never happened to me in football in 15 years," said Clibbens. "People change their minds but generally not after such a period and being so committed or saying they were so committed to our project."

He said the snub "threw a spanner in the works" of the process but the Blues still pushed ahead with the appointment of Williamson from MK Dons as head coach, as the club were "100 per cent" certain that he was the man they wanted as Paul Simpson's successor.

The director's comments are the club's first remarks on the sporting director situation since owner Tom Piatak, on September 11, had said the club were close to an appointment - that candidate believed to be Sweeting.

United, meanwhile, have announced a 'festival of football' to be held at Brunton Park later this month, in partnership with Tullie.

The event on Wednesday, October 30 will include an open training session, stadium tours including the ground's new facilities such as executive boxes, and further activities both at Brunton Park and Tullie - plus the opportunity to ride on United's team coach.

Williamson and the players will all be at Tullie in the afternoon to attend the 'Backing the Blues' exhibition and to meet fans.

Full details are on the club website.