Carlisle United are weighing up a potential free agent signing under new head coach Mark Hughes, sporting director Rob Clarkson says.
Sporting director Rob Clarkson has confirmed the Blues are looking at a player with a view to a possible deal.
The Cumbrians made 11 signings in the January transfer window but their recruitment may not yet be over after the sacking of Mike Williamson.
Clarkson told the club’s official channels that an unattached player was in their sights.
“There is potentially one who could come in as a free agent and help us from now until the end of the season,” he said. “So we are looking, but just one.”
Clarkson, meanwhile, has said that new boss Hughes will adhere to the “style of play” United want, although he will make “subtle tweaks” as he sees fit.
The Cumbrians’ hierarchy, upon last August’s sacking of Paul Simpson, said they wanted to promote a particular style of play which was also behind their appointment of Mike Williamson the following month.
Williamson was dismissed on Monday with United floundering at the bottom of League Two.
On the style of play, Clarkson said: “Ultimately winning is the most important thing in any sport but what we don't want to do is go away from the style of play. The style of play is important and the players we've got are good footballers.
“The new manager coming in knows that and he's keen to work with that. He's not a manager that's going to come in and change everything and totally change the way we play.
“It'll be more subtle tweaks and him using his experience in terms of in-game management.
“It’s certainly not going to be an extreme change like it might have been from what the fans have seen previously.”
Clarkson added that the decision to axe Williamson had been “tough” but he and the owners, the Piatak family, concluded that a change was needed “because the results haven't been good enough” and were not changing quickly enough, despite the votes of confidence they gave to Williamson at January’s fans’ forum.
New head coach Mark Hughes (Image: Barbara Abbott)
He added that, as the Blues began approaching candidates to replace Williamson, they pushed to secure Hughes once it was clear he was interested, describing it as a “no-brainer” for Carlisle.
“I felt that his experience is exactly what we need at this moment in time,” added Clarkson, who added that United were keen not to see another “big turnaround of staff”. Williamson’s existing coaches Ian Watson, Chris Bell and Tom Weal have been retained.
Clarkson said that continuity was important for the club and a move away from everything being “manager led” on a general staffing front.
The sporting director also said Hughes’ ability to make in-game “tweaks” would be important and on systems. “He's played with the three at the back before, he's played with the four at the back before, so he's going to do whatever's best for the group of players that we've got.”
“They're very clear in what they want. They've been very clear with the staff and very clear with the players in terms of this is how it is. It's a huge 18 games.
“The clarity that they'll bring to the group will be really important. Ultimately, I think we've got enough good players in there that they can work with to get results on the pitch.” Hughes takes charge of his first game against Grimsby Town on Saturday.
It has also been confirmed that Bell has been appointed performance director at United, Clarkson highlighting the coach’s background in medicine, sports science, psychology and nutrition.
The full interview is via CUTV HERE.
