Blues: new era or same old story?
Last updated 10:02, Saturday, 05 July 2008
They are four Cumbrians who share a passion for football and have a track record for business success...
But can the new owners of Carlisle United fulfil their promise to take the club to fresh glory?
As every fan of the club will know, the club has weathered some terrible times: rescued from Michael Knighton by the Dublin businessman John Courtenay only to plunge depressingly into the Conference in 2004.
Yet the last four years have seen a steady and at times exhilarating recovery, with United now poised to break into the Championship.
History will be the ultimate judge of Fred Story’s tenure, but most United watchers seem to agree that he delivered what he promised: a stable and thriving club with real hope of more glory to come.
So what do fans make of the new owners, chartered accountant David Allen, former Pirelli boss John Nixon, club chairman Andrew Jenkins, and Carlisle Glass boss Steven Pattison?
They may already have been directors at Brunton Park, but can this quartet of Cumbrian businessmen build on the success of the Story years?
One sentiment expressed by some fans yesterday was a feeling that nothing much has changed.
Darren Haney, 36, a fan for 22 years, said: “These are basically the guys who have been running the club for the last three seasons.
“We certainly don’t want to go back to the days of Michael Knighton and it looks as though we’re going to be financially stable.
“It was a bit of a worry when we thought John Courtenay might be coming back – though he did a good job when he first came.”
Like some fellow fans, Darren, from Wigton, hopes United’s new bosses hang on to stars like Joe Garner rather than sell him on.
He added: “Fred’s put us on an even keel. He was a good businessman and nobody wants to end up like Gretna.”
Stanwix man George Graham, 72, a fan for 60 years, said: “It’s hard to say but I think these men will just carry on in the same way.
“The club needs to be run as a business. You don’t want people coming in with daft money – I’m thinking of Gretna.
“I think the club’s in a good position, but I do think that the Championship would be pushing it. If you are losing games, some of the fans just won’t go to matches.”
Richard Bowes, 33, from Carlisle, declared himself underwhelmed by the new regime, saying: “I don’t think it’s a good thing.
“The club needs to buy three really good players, and I can’t see these guys doing that. If Courtenay had come in, he’d have done that straightaway, buying two or three good players who would have brought in the crowds.
“These guys will be happy to keep it steady. But it will be a vicious circle: if you don’t bring in the good players you won’t attract the crowds you need.”
Mr Bowes said he believed that aim – boosting attendance at Brunton Park – was the key to the club’s progression.
Recalling the press conference held by the new owners on Thursday, he said it had been flat and lacking in passion.
Among the comments posted on the News & Star’s website was that of fan Mike Little. He wrote: “I’m totally uninspired by the new owners. A poor press conference has already put doubt in the mind of supporters. Where is the charisma, the drive, the ambition?”
Mike Reed, who praised the leadership of Fred Story, said: “It will be interesting to see who really is in charge now as clubs run by committee sometimes don’t work that well.
“Sometimes you need a strong leader with followers, not followers leading.”
Stuart Lawson is among those happy to give the new owners a chance to prove themselves.
He said: “Well done Fred for keeping the club in the hands of Cumbrians.”
Terry Lytollis echoed that sentiment, adding: “What a relief Big Freddie has taken this option and Carlisle remains in the hands of local businessmen. Let’s hope that they have some spare cash to buy one or two good players to get us into the Championship.”
