Carlisle United manager Paul Simpson has admitted that the club are still on the lookout for potential new signings with the transfer window set to close in just over two weeks.
Carlisle haven’t had a wonderful start to the 2023/24 campaign in League One, drawing two games against Fleetwood Town and Wigan Athletic 1-1 and losing 1-0 away at Oxford United.
Meanwhile, Simpson’s side exited the EFL Cup in the competition’s first round, being defeated 1-0 away at League Two outfit Harrogate Town.
The Cumbrians have had quite a few injury concerns since the season commenced. Owen Moxon, Sean Maguire, Dylan McGeouch and Fin Back are just a few of the players who already had to be wrapped in cotton wool thus far.
However, speaking to club media after last night’s 1-1 draw with the Latics, the head coach confirmed that there are plans to make the squad stronger.
Simpson said:
“We are still looking, we definitely want to try and do something else if we possibly can, but it’s flipping hard.
“We’ve looked at Fleetwood, Oxford and Wigan and we can’t compete financially with any of them, we can’t get that type of player in. We’ve got to try and be lucky and nick the right person and personality.
“I’ll be surprised if there’s anything by Saturday, but we’ll keep working until we can give everybody some good news.”
The 57-year-old also claimed that the lack of transfer activity is not because the budgetary strings have been tightened by the board but simply that he wants to sign the right players:
“I will say the directors aren’t stopping me from doing it, there are funds available, it’s finding the right players.
“We’ve got funds available, it’s finding the right ones to spend it on. We’re speaking to a Premier League club last week and they were saying you can have him as a free loan, but we don’t know whether he’s going to be able to play for us. We’re not sure if he’s good enough.
“I don’t want to just stockpile bodies, I want them able to do a job for us. We’re not going to just take them for the sake of it, if it means the right one isn’t available we won’t bring anybody in.”
Writer’s View
Despite the weak start to the season, there is no need to panic for supporters of Carlisle United.
The window remains open for another two weeks and, given Simpson’s comments, there will be new arrivals who will potentially strengthen the squad.
