Carlisle United’s Director of Football David Holdsworth has been keen to dispel a myth circulating around the club this summer that they’re missing out on transfer targets due to a frugal approach.
With just 11 days left until the start of the season, the Cumbrians still look short on one or two positions. They’ve lost Jamie Devitt this summer too, a key player from last season who was offered a new deal.
When he left, he claimed it was purely down to the length of the deal on offer, something that drew criticism from some areas of the support. In an interview with the Express and Star, Holdsworth has refuted that claim.
“When Jamie said he wanted to go elsewhere, that was extremely early,” said the former Lincoln manager.
“We offered Jamie to be the top-paid player at our football club. The agent turned around and said Jamie was moving on. I don’t believe for one minute it was about the length of contract, because Jamie could have been here for two years and he knows that.
“Steven said he would have liked to build his team around Jamie, but he’s decided to move on and look for other targets.”
Despite that situation, Holdsworth admitted he might have brought Devitt back had he been in charge of team affairs.
“Would I have brought Jamie back? I possibly would have done. But I’m not here to pick the team or choose players. I don’t get involved in that part. We do the recruitment, and there’s not been anybody we’ve really lost out on for that reason.”
Jamie Devitt went to a League One club, and we wish him well. Nathan Thomas went to a League One club and we wish him well. There’s not been anybody else we’ve gone for and missed out on because of the finance. Let’s extinguish that myth.”
The Cumbrians have added seven players to their current roster, including former Scunthorpe defender Byron Webster and Northampton’s Jack Bridge.
You can read our preview of their upcoming season here.
Our View
It sounds to me as though Holdsworth is protesting a little too much. His role is interesting, with the greatest of respect he is a failed manager and most directors of football have some success behind them.
However, in the case of Devitt I’m inclined to believe him. The player clearly wanted a move higher up the divisions, few could blame him either.
Why he left the parting shot as he did, shattering the bond between fans and the club, is a mystery. There was no need.
