Ground
Brunton Park
Capacity
16,651
Location
About eight miles south of the Scottish border.
Implications (1)
Most pre-season friendlies are played against
Scottish clubs.
Implications (2)
Distinct lack of local rivals (nearest clubs
in Second Division are Preston and Blackpool, 80 miles away).
Implications (3)
Away fans' favourite chant: "You're Jocks
and you know you are."
Chairman
Ex-Manchester Utd director (and amateur UFO spotter)
Michael Knighton.
Manager
Michael Knighton. Donned the tracksuit after sacking
Mervyn Day five games into the season.
Qualifications
"I'd have been a top pro if I hadn't
ruptured my thigh muscle as a ground-staff boy with Coventry. And the thesis for
my university teaching certificate was 'Pro Football: Teamwork, Tactics and
Skill Acquisition'."
Impact
Has switched from Day's 5-3-2 formation to 4-3-3. After
the recent 1-1 draw at Milwall he said: "The players are finally getting to
grips with the new system." They needed to: they had previously lost five
straight games.
View from the terraces
Remarkably accepting of the situation.
But then Knighton has invested about £3 million in the club since he
arrived in 1992, and "without him we'd be in the Vauxhall Conference by
now."
Top acquisition
Somehow persuaded the impressive French
defender Stephane Pounewatchy to play in the Third Division last season.
Less successful acquisition
Tried same trick this year with
Laurent Croci. But after playing once the Bordeaux midfielder has disparu.
Grand plan
Knighton wants to bring in a player-coach and is
targeting three people: former Carlisle players Peters Beardsley and Shirtliffe,
and Ally McCoist.
Likelihood
A rumour at Bolton that suggests Beardsley plus £1
million will pay for the highly-rated youngster Matt Jansen. The McCoist story
ties in with conspiracy theories that Carlisle are to become a feeder club for
Rangers who, conveniently, are relatively nearby but not in the same league.
Other managerial oddities
Carlisle appointed the youngest ever
(player-) manager in the Football League, Ivor Broadis, in 1946 at the age of
23. Three years later he ended his reign by transferring himself to Sunderland!
Someone called Bill Shankly took over.
Any pets?
Olga, a stuffed fox that used to be placed on the
centre circle before every game. And sheep.
Sheep?
In an impressive spirit of self-deprecation, 5,000
inflatable ones descended on Wembley for the final of the Auto Windscreens
Shield at the end of last season. The ensuing win earned only the second trophy
in Carlisle's history.
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