Carlisle United have become the third EFL side to part ways with their manager during the 2024/25 campaign as a direct result of a disappointing run of form, but who could the club turn to next?

The League Two side confirmed Simpson’s exit from the football club, following their 2-1 home defeat against Tranmere Rovers in what has been a tough run of form losing ten of their previous 12 matches dating back to April 2024 when the side were in the third tier.

Full-back Archie Davies gave the hosts the lead after just six minutes, but within 60 seconds Omari Patrick equalised for the visitors, before scoring the all-important winner mid-way through the first half.

Carlisle have now played five matches in all competitions during the 2024/25 season, losing four times with their only win coming narrowly against Barrow to leave them 20th in League Two.

Following Simpson’s unsurprising departure, who could the football club turn to next?

Brian Barry-Murphy

My first suggestion is potentially a risk but one that I certainly think could pay off and that is former Manchester City U21s manager Brian Barry-Murphy.

The 46-year-old left the Premier League champions in the summer to pursue a first-team role but is yet to find a club. He has previously managed Rochdale within the EFL.

With the Citizens, Barry-Murphy won back-to-back Premier League 2 titles whilst working with a plethora of talented players such as Kian Breckin (on loan at Crewe Alexandra), Jadel Katongo (on loan at Peterborough United) and Finley Burns (on loan at Hull City).

His preferred system is a 4-3-3 attack, which should allow Carlisle’s attacking players to utilise the system to their advantage, make them more dangerous in the final third and hopefully kickstart what has been a frustrating campaign thus far.

Gareth Ainsworth

One manager who has been out of work for a long time and could find himself on the shortlist is former Wycombe Wanderers and Queens Park Rangers manager Gareth Ainsworth.

The 51-year-old has been out of work since October 2023 after a disappointing spell at QPR but did enjoy ten successful years with the Chairboys, helping them climb from League Two to the Championship.

As a manager, Ainsworth has experienced two promotions including one from League Two, as well as winning five Manager of the Month awards and the 2014/15 LMA League Two Manager of the Year.

Although his usual style of football isn’t as pleasing to the eye as supporters may want, he has a proven ability to make clubs hard to beat and knows what it takes to get a side out of the fourth tier and stabilise themselves in League One.

Pete Wild

Admittedly, this is a suggestion that will massively divide the Carlisle United fan base but if the club want a cheap, quick and realistic appointment then Pete Wild could be the perfect man for them.

The former Halifax Town manager is best known to League Two fans for his time in charge of Barrow, which lasted until the end of the previous season in which the club missed out on the play-offs despite spending the majority of the season in them.

Wild has won two Manager of the Month awards and has enjoyed success with Barrow, Halifax Town and Oldham Athletic as well as being based in the North West of England, which could make for a smoother transition.

Though his former side failed to achieve a promotion place last season, they did show on several occasions that the tactics and systems used were successful and that could be something that attracts a club like Carlisle United to him.

Rob Elliott

From a potentially controversial choice to one that is extremely ambitious, my final suggestion for the vacant managerial position could be Gateshead manager Rob Elliott.

Elliott has enjoyed an eye-catching career as manager of Gateshead so far this season, as well as guiding them to the play-offs and an FA Trophy triumph at Wembley whilst he was just a caretaker manager after Mike Williamson left for MK Dons.

The 38-year-old took the job permanently earlier this summer and currently his side are the only team in the National League that remains unbeaten after six league games, winning four and scoring 14 goals which is over two per game on average.

Due to him only recently taking the job, there is a limited chance that Carlisle would be able to tempt him because he has a great thing going at Gateshead so far, but the finances behind the League Two side would certainly be enough to tempt Elliott if he was the man they wanted.

Carlisle United fans, would you take any of these as your next manager moving forward?