Carlisle United‘s sporting director Rob Clarkson has rejected claims that the lack of action towards sacking Mike Williamson was an error.
The former MK Dons boss was relieved of his duties on deadline day earlier this month after a dismal run of form which has left Carlisle teetering towards the brink of relegation in League Two.
“There Was A Belief”
The Blues have since moved forward with former Bradford City manager Mark Hughes, remaining six points adrift of safety with 15 games of their season remaining. However, the decisions behind sacking Williamson have drawn many criticisms, with some questioning why it took so long to dismiss him, and others angered by the choice to give him the whole winter transfer window before ousting him on deadline day.
When asked by the News & Star as to whether there was an error of judgement with how long Williamson was given, Clarkson said:
“I don’t think so. We were constantly analysing it week to week. There was a belief that performances were improving, certainly in the first part of my time here [since the autumn].
“Then we were looking towards January and we felt like all the games we were in were tight. We had chances to win games and it didn’t quite happen.
“Then the period around Christmas and the turn of the year was obviously challenging. But then we had a ten-day period where we had some players coming in and we would give Mike time to work with those players.
“And then coming off the back of that, we just didn’t quite see the results that we thought we would. And I suppose the manner of [Swindon] made it very difficult for us to not do something, to not act at that point.”
Writer’s View
Carlisle United’s supporters will likely not be happy with the decision-making the club made in regards to Mike Williamson but at least they have been given the hierarchy’s perspective as to why he was given as long as he was. Whilst injuries have – and continue to – play a factor in their issues, some responsibility has to be burdened by the ownership and board for how badly this season has gone due to choices they have made.
