Ex Dale manager Paul Simpson has been named as the early favourite for the vacant Carlisle job following the sacking of Gregg Abbott on Monday.

The job became vacant after Carlisle sacked Abbott after a start to the season that had seen a number of heavy defeats. Abbott had been one of the longest serving managers in the Football League.

Simpson immediately through his managerial hat into the ring, confirming to Radio Cumbria that he was interested in the job and that interest has seen him installed as favourite for the job with a number of Bookmakers with odds as short as 3-1, and

Simpson was quoted as saying in the Carlisle local press: It’s something that would interest me, it’s as simple as that. It’s my home club, I know there was a certain atmosphere when I left but that’s football, you just have to deal with that. I don’t know whether the club have got someone in mind already, but if Carlisle United wanted to speak to me I would be happy to speak to them about it.”

Simpson had a mixed spell at Carlisle as manager. He was manager when they were relegated out of the Football League but he saw them bounce back at the first attempt before winning the League Two title at Spotland soon after. However, he soon moved on to an unsuccessful spell as Preston North End manager. Since then, he has had spells in charge of Shrewsbury and Stockport County.

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