League Two relegation dwellers Carlisle United have turned to the vastly experienced Mark Hughes in their latest bid for EFL survival. The 61-year-old has agreed to take over on a rolling agreement.
There isn’t much Hughes hasn’t seen during his long career in football, but rescuing the Cumbrians football league status could be his most arduous challenge to date.
How Did Carlisle Get Here?
Carlisle aren’t the first club to struggle with the adjustment between the different tiers of the EFL. Forest Green Rovers are the all to recent example of a side suffering back-to-back relegations from League One to the National League. The highs of a Wembley promotion immediately followed by relegation showcases the strength of the pyramid, but also fuels the theory of losing becoming a habit.
The new boss has the unenviable task of breeding confidence into a bereft squad of players, and also integrating the 11 January arrivals quickly. Hughes, who spent a five year spell as Wales manager either side of the millennium inherits a squad with just 12 league wins since the beginning of the 2023/24 season.
Employing a man who has managed over 466 Premier League matches with six separate clubs shows how seriously the Piatek family are taking their current plight.
All Or Nothing Appointment
The decision of deciding who would be their third manager of this campaign is up there with one of the most crucial in Carlisle United’s club history. They find themselves at the very foot of the table, five points from safety. This latest appointment has a distinct feeling of last chance saloon at Brunton Park, with relatively new owners CastleSports Group, already feeling the pinch.
As the games continue to dwindle, so too does the Blues chances of bridging the gap to safety. But there is still time for the former Manchester City manager to instil his years of knowledge and wisdom on his new squad.
The timing of the managerial change has undoubtedly raised many an eyebrow. After strongly backing Mike Williamson both in a statement and in the transfer market last month, the board then decided to relieve him of his duties on deadline day. It felt like an admission that they had made a mistake, after reuniting him with many of his former players in January in an attempt to provide some cohesion.
It quickly became apparent to the loyal Carlisle faithful, that Williamson’s progressive and risk versus reward approach wasn’t going to be the necessary formula for a League Two relegation battle. The relentless playing out from the goalkeeper became predictable for opponents, and simply didn’t suit the players strengths. While the Carlisle locals accepted that all coaches have their preferred methods, it was the reluctance to vary their play that prompted the need for change.
Experience Could Be The Key
The high profile announcement of Hughes certainly brings unmistakable scope for optimism for the Carlisle fans. His extensive background both as a player and manager has equipped him with the tactical acumen to navigate this latest challenge. His familiarity with managing in moments of extreme high stakes should rub off on his latest squad of players. He is sure to know what it will take to create the positive mindset needed to improve performances and win more matches.
Sporting director Rob Clarkson spoke to the club website about securing the signature of a figure of such experience in the game.
“I’m delighted that Mark has agreed to join Carlisle United.
“His experience and stature in the game speaks for itself. He is someone who will instantly command respect from all staff and players and I am really excited to work with him.”
It feels like a different approach from the board at Brunton Park, to the route taken for Hughes’ two predecessors. Paul Simpson was a club legend that returned for his second spell, while Williamson is a comparatively young manager still making his way. His time at Bradford City last season will have given him a Birds Eye view of how to succeed in League 2. At the beginning of a pivotal few months for the city of Carlisle, Mark Hughes could prove to be the firefighter that they have been crying out for.
In a week that has seen all 72 National League clubs write to the EFL stating their wish for an extra promotion spot, Carlisle United will be all the more determined to cling on to theirs.