Carlisle United Football Club

“We’re not going down there just to make numbers up,” he insisted. “We go with a game plan which we think will cause them problems. The players have the instruction to go out and express themselves in every game they play. 

“I went to watch QPR at Wolves last Wednesday and I’m pleased they got the win. I wasn’t too impressed with them in the first half but they showed they’re a good side with the way they picked things up. 

“They’ll be full of confidence but ultimately their goal is to get promoted to the Premier League. That could mean they take one eye off the cup game – we won’t know that until we get to the night. 

“It’s always a great atmosphere and great environment down there. I lived down there for just over two years and it will provide us with a proper Tuesday night arena for a good game of football.”

“It’s a quality football club and I have fantastic memories from working there,” he explained. “Playing wise the personnel have changed and I think there’s only Clint Hill and Ale Faurlin who were there when I was. They’ve been on a rollercoaster of a journey, with some real highs and lows, but it’s a football club which is very dear to me. 

“We went up as Champions when Neil [Warnock] and I were able to halt the slide they’d been on. I think that will always be a very fond memory for me. They were in a precarious position when we took over and we found a blend of players that worked. We created a winning mentality and it was a good place to be.”

“It’s a game we want to win and we’ll pick the team to try to do that for us,” he concluded. “They have a really good squad, so it won’t be easy, but we won’t be rolling over.

“I have the desire in me that I always want to win the next match. I think we’ll have a good showing of fans, particularly with the support we get from the London Branch, so we’ll want to put on as good a display as possible for them.”