Webchat: Jon Colman

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

3rd & 7 37yd

Hello and welcome to today's Carlisle United webchat - your opinions and questions on all Brunton Park topics between now and 1pm, please...

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:00:32 AM
What is the target for next season, what would be deemed an acceptable season.

by Richard 5/12/2014 11:01:50 AM
A few recent talking points include this suggestion from the United Trust www.newsandstar.co.uk this parting shot from Liam Noble www.newsandstar.co.uk and this interview by John Nixon www.cnnewmedia.co.uk

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:02:47 AM
Jon, if you were a director of CUFC, would you keep Kavanagh for next season? (Yes or No, please!)

by Iain 5/12/2014 11:03:03 AM
Not to mention this from Graham Kavanagh about what Carlisle need for League Two

News & Star | Carlisle United | Latest | Carlisle Utd boss Kavanagh hunting for dozen new players

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:03:22 AM
Hi Richard - the club are publicly saying they are targeting promotion. Personally I think they would do well not to underestimate League Two, especially given how much rebuilding the team needs, and also given the general pessimism surrounding their prospects. But the play-offs at least should be a realistic target

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:04:59 AM
Iain - based on the disastrous last few months of the season, then I wouldn't say he has exactly made a compelling case. But the directors appear to have faith in him to oversee the rebuild. It is a hugely important time

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:07:07 AM
Most fans seem disillusioned with the club, reflected by the gates. Presumably the playing budget is set by the previous season so a new exciting team is unrealistic to expect given the finiancial constraints. How do the club get the fans back and stop the cycle of decline we seem to be in?

by Lee 5/12/2014 11:07:19 AM
Lee - certainly the financial constraints will make life challenging, but this is surely where a manager and his staff earn their corn, and even given Carlisle's budget it should not be beyond them to build a competitive team for League Two. As for the wider question, there needs to be a great deal more openness from the top, some greater creativity at all levels, the investment the club desperately needs - and a bold, honest push for all of the above. What would you like to see?

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:09:34 AM
And a second question, Jon: After your recent long interview with John Nixon, did your level of respect for him increase, decrease, or remain the same as before? (He won't be reading this, so don't worry about being honest!!!)

by Iain 5/12/2014 11:09:37 AM
Hi Iain. About the same

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:10:00 AM
Hi, i've got a question re the Norman Steel interview. He suggested that if the BOD wanted to generate some capital for new investment then they should investigate a new share issue. This would dilute the shares Trust. Would it be possible for you to ask him if he would be comfortable with this or would want to maintain the Trust's current share? If he isn't, would the Trust be prepared to purchase shares to keep their current percentage? If this is also not acceptable, what is his actual proposal?

by Chris 5/12/2014 11:11:05 AM
Hi Chris - my understanding is that the Trust would want to maintain their current share, but I'm hoping to put this and various other questions to the Trust soon, as they have agreed to a Q&A session with the News & Star this close-season. Hopefully we will get some clarity on this and other things.

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:12:34 AM
Do you think some fans need to shoulder some responsibility (as well as the board) for the lack of funds. Staying away from games means less funds to spend, which means less attractive football and winning less games which in turn leads to more people staying away.

by Rob 5/12/2014 11:12:54 AM
Rob - every fan who stays away has his or her own reason for doing so, and it would be difficult to blame them for the decline - after all, fans do not sign players, appoint managers or give team-talks. It would be more helpful to ask why they are staying away and what they are doing instead. History shows that, when Carlisle United is functioning better and more brightly, they will come on board. I would say it is the club's duty to win them back rather than other way round

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:14:56 AM
Oh and another question. Did you ever get your apology from that paper in Boreham Wood?

by Chris 5/12/2014 11:14:56 AM
Chris - a brief one, yes, via email.

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:15:35 AM
Jon, a point on Liam Noble. What was the reason given for his release? And personally would you have liked to see him kept on like many of the fans?

by Connor 5/12/2014 11:15:40 AM
Connor - Kavanagh did not go into the finer detail on why Noble was released, other than to say decisions were made for the good of the club. Noble himself says he was told that Carlisle are looking for bigger, more physical players for League Two. Would I have kept him on? It depends who they can replace him with. Personally - a borderline call.

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:17:06 AM
The evidence of previous season with 40-50 players coming and going tell us all that 12 players required day 1 is a recipe for further disaster. No one would dispute a clear out is needed but I don't think Kavanagh is the man to pull together a good side in this situation.

by Steve 5/12/2014 11:17:07 AM
Steve - I agree that it is going to take a very skilful effort to pull together a successful team/squad with so many new players needed. But equally, as you say, most fans seemed to agree that a major clear-out was required. If you don't feel that Kavanagh is the man (unlike the board, who are entrusting him with this vital job) who would you prefer?

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:18:34 AM
Hi Jon, How can the Blues get more fans through the doors? The crowds have dwindled to levels lower than when we were in the Conference. It is quite alarming.

by Richie Macca 5/12/2014 11:18:34 AM
Has there been any indication of who the players were that were late for training and didn't put effort in, mentioned by Liam Noble, and are any still at the club a yes or no answer to the last question will be fine.

by Richard 5/12/2014 11:20:30 AM
Richie Macca - above all - and aside from building a better team that wins matches - I believe they need to sell a positive vision more vibrantly than they have done so far. People want to get out of bed excited about where the club is heading, not worried about that direction. Investment, exciting players, some other creativity - there needs to be a new catalyst from somewhere

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:20:31 AM
Richard - Noble didn't name names. But from what I can gather they are no longer at the club

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:22:36 AM
Is Gary Jones the kind of signing we should be looking at to bring on League 2?

by Aaron 5/12/2014 11:22:37 AM
Aaron - he's certainly the kind of character you would hope for in a new signing. It will all depend on whether he still has the appetite/legs for another slog in the basement division.

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:23:24 AM
Jon did your big interview with John Nixon leave you feeling positive about next season? It left me feeling that the board are arrogant, defensive and stubborn personally!

by Steve 5/12/2014 11:23:27 AM
Steve - firstly, I was glad to have the opportunity to put across some important questions. I wish that opportunity came around much more often and I think it would be much more helpful for the board and club if these things were not such big, one-off events too. Did it leave me feeling positive about next season? I wouldn't go that far. Until we see who Carlisle can bring in, I'm still in neutral

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:25:23 AM
Hi Jon Reading some of your recent articles you seem to be as sceptical as some of the rest of us as to wether there is more to the real ownership than we are being told. Whats your oppinion on this and do you think Story has more to do with things than just his loan and the charge on the ground.

by barry_innquest@yahoo.co.uk 5/12/2014 11:25:25 AM
Hello barry_innquest. Many around the club are privately dismissive of the Story theory - and like many conspiracy theories, it is not easy to stand up. Personally I think the current owners simply do not want to budge until/unless Project Blue Yonder comes off. Only then might we see their own plans for life after CUFC.

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:28:29 AM
Do you see any significant movement towards greater openness within the club, Jon?

by Iain 5/12/2014 11:28:32 AM
Iain - at certain levels there is openness. The manager normally talks to the media openly and players are accessible, for instance. I don't sense, sadly, that the owners are going to talk to fans through the media more often than in the past. But we live in hope.

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:30:06 AM
Jon, would you prefer to go to Torquay or play Man Utd's B team? Danny Mills suggests the latter.

by Danny 5/12/2014 11:30:07 AM
Danny - Torquay every time and Greg Dyke ought to join me. He might learn a little more about what the Football League and the value of the pyramid means to supporters. He might even start a commission aimed at helping them!

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:32:09 AM
Do you feel that towards the end of the season the players attitude and commitment dropped

by Richard 5/12/2014 11:32:12 AM
Is there any sense that Kavanagh or the board is lookng to establish a long-term plan for the future - in terms of playing style or youth development?

by Con 5/12/2014 11:33:33 AM
Richard - these things are difficult to measure, but it did look that way in some cases. Though personally I felt that Carlisle failed for a more obvious reason; that they just weren't good enough

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:33:35 AM
Con - there is a written policy at the club relating to its plans for youth development. They are hoping to achieve Category 3 status in the new Elite Player Performance Plan and John Nixon has been banging the drum about having nine home-grown first-team players in 10 years' time. Kavanagh also discussed his ideal playing style when he accepted my offer of a page in the paper a couple of months ago (it can be found on the N&S website if you scroll down my column section). Though I would expect that sinking into League Two may affect that in the short-term

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:36:16 AM
What concerns me is that the BoD do not seem to be aware of the need to set targets re Kavanagh and build a scouting team. I know you asked JN on the issue of performance and contract but did you feel he was fully aware of the naivety he exhibited in his response on Kavanagh's contract or on the issue (or lack of) regarding scouting. Who doesn't set targets in football?

by Bruce 5/12/2014 11:36:18 AM
Bruce - I do feel there were parallels to the response to the Kavanagh contract question and the way Abbott's much-criticised extension was handled. I did find it odd to hear it argued that people 'don't perform with an axe over their head' when Carlisle have just been relegated without such an axe. No doubt there are different ways of doing business, managing people etc but it can't be argued that Carlisle's way has worked in the last couple of years.

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:39:07 AM
And a second question: In a recent interview with Noble, he also said some loan players weren't too worried about Carlisle's future! Surely we need to be more careful in the loan market, for example the Townsend fiasco! Paying his wages for the rest of the season, what are your views and this years reliance on the loan system?

by Connor 5/12/2014 11:39:08 AM
Connor - yes, I imagine the Townsend situation re the wages will be at the forefront of certain minds at the club when they recruit next season. As for loans generally, it has to be more structured, with longer loans (ironically Towsend's was!) rather than the recent haphazard approach - and fewer of them, too.

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:40:54 AM
Do you think Kavanagh was wise to go out in Carlisle with the team on the Saturday following relegation? What message do you think it gives the fans?

by Steve 5/12/2014 11:40:55 AM
Steve - I know some players etc chose not to go out for the reasons you hint at. I've spoken to people who encountered them last Sunday and said they were perfectly agreeable - but personally, I'm not sure it was wise in the circumstances, and that goes for manager/coaches/players

by joncolman 5/12/2014 11:43:26 AM