Webchat: Jon Colman

Carlisle Utd reporter Jon Colman here to answer all your Blues related questions.

3rd & 7 37yd

Richie Macca - vital, I would say, although Potts appears to be established now and Symington is clearly a player Kavanagh likes. Hopefully Beck will also play a big part. Kavanagh says he does not want to rely on too much youth but John Nixon has described youth as 'our backbone' - the answer will be somewhere in the middle I'm sure. As for summer bids, I wouldn't be surprised if there is some interest in Potts

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:50:26 AM
Bruce - I wasn't surprised that Chantler was released as I was never sure that Kavanagh was completely sold on him. If there was any player from the departed dozen I would have kept, it would have been him, but as always it depends who he will be replaced with. As for CMW, Kavanagh clearly feels he can cope with being called out in interviews etc. Will be interesting to see how he copes with this and how big a part he plays next season.

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:52:59 AM
Guy - thanks, appreciated. It would depend on the size of the offer although being in League Two may weaken the club's hand a little. It might also depend on how eager Potts (and his agent) was to pursue any interest. It would not have to be a great setback if the offer was too good to refuse and the team could be strengthened accordingly. But he could be a great asset for the team in L2 and you hope he will still be here come August.

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:54:57 AM
Is there any hope for investment from the current board?
We are in danger off being overtaken by Celtic nation in the football pyramid in years to come.

by Mikey 5/12/2014 11:55:01 AM
Mikey - not that I can see, beyond Andrew Jenkins' fairly regular director's loans. Nixon recently said the club were approached by a third-party for an investor but that doesn't seem to have got very far. He also said they are talking to other people but there doesn't appear anything imminent.

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:56:45 AM
A couple more questions and we're done...

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:57:49 AM
Fergs - facilities are, in may areas, antiquated, there is no doubting that (the question is how best this should be addressed). And the atmosphere around the fanbase appears to be as low as I've known it for many years. I don't buy into the
A better start to next season would certainly lift some of the gloom.

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:59:17 AM
If Carlisle United are serious about increasing attendances they should try to attract new season ticket holders, which the current pricing doesn't do.

There's hardly any saving compared to buying match tickets. They need to convert casual fans (who abandon the club after a few bad results) into season ticket holders by reducing prices.

These are the prices for northern League two teams for next season.

Cheapest new adult season ticket (seat)

Carlisle: £380 (until 13th June, then £399)
Tranmere: £270
Bury: £250
Hartlepool: £180 (until 8th July, then £200)
Rochdale: £333
Morecambe: £299 (increases to £369)
Accrington: £200 (then £225 in May, then £250)

by Jeff 5/12/2014 11:59:51 AM
sorry, didn't finish previous answer. I don't buy into the doomsday predictions of a double relegation to the Conference but a lot will depend on how the club recruits and rebuilds over the summer, and where the financial cuts are made.

by joncolman 5/12/2014 12:00:05 PM
Jeff - what would you regard as an acceptable season ticket price?

by joncolman 5/12/2014 12:01:13 PM
We've been swamped with questions and unfortunately Jon isn't going to be able to answer them all. His hour is up! Sorry if yours was not one of those answered.
Hopefully, we can do another one of these sessions at some point in the near future.

by Ian, News & Star 5/12/2014 12:02:21 PM
Okay, the hour's up and that's the end of today's webchat. Thanks to all for taking part!

by joncolman 5/12/2014 12:02:48 PM
It should certainly be less than £300 for League Two football. I think Tranmere and Bury have got it right.

by Jeff 5/12/2014 12:04:26 PM