Coaching staff agree two-year deals
Carlisle United first team coaching staff members Lee Dykes, Simon Tracey and Colin West have put pen-to-paper on their new contracts ahead of the start of the 2016/17 season following a successful period of discussions with the Club.
The new deals, running in-line with first team manager Keith Curle [summer 2018], see Dykes and West become Joint Assistant Managers, with Dykes continuing with specific responsibility for player recruitment as Tracey joins the club on a full-time basis.
Manager Keith Curle said: “This has taken a while to get sorted but that’s because the staff are very similar to me in that everything has to be right. I think the Club appreciate that and I think it was right on the part of the Club that they felt there were no grey areas as well.
“It’s done now but the pleasing thing is there was an agreement in place at the end of last season between the chairman and I whereby we knew what the particulars of the deal were going to be. It was then just a case of getting it put down on paper.
“We’ve changed the roles slightly because I see my staff working side-by-side, Simon Tracey included. I value all of their opinions, knowledge and input equally. The difference now for Lee is a reward for the work he did alongside Colin through last season. I’m telling them that they are my left and right hand and there is nothing more important as a manager than to know your staff feel valued.
“What I have tried to create is a unity within the football department and staff where we win, lose and draw together. If results don’t go our way we all feel that pain. I think that’s very important.”
Chief Executive Nigel Clibbens said: “It’s important that the football staff roles and responsibilities are clear and we are all united on and off the field in how we go about things. I’m pleased this contract extension process has been completed successfully and we are moving forward together.
“There is no doubt in my mind that maintaining continuity of management and staff builds cohesion and improves the chances of success. Going into their third campaign as a settled management team is a big boost for the Club.”
Dykes and West came to United in September 2014 when Curle took over the manager’s position with Tracey joining the coaching staff in June 2015.
We’ll have more reaction to this news on the official website over the course of this week.
