Midfielder Russell Penn joins Gateshead on one month deal
United midfielder Russell Penn has today joined Conference outfit Gateshead on a one-month loan deal which keeps him in the north-east until 25 October 2016.The experienced central midfielder signed a one-year deal with Carlisle in June 2016 which keeps him at Brunton Park until at least the summer of 2017.
Penn started his career with Kidderminster Harriers and was most recently with York City, before making the trip across to Cumbria in the summer. He has made two appearances for the club this season.
Manager Keith Curle said: “It’s an opportunity for him to go and get competitive game time. It’s the only thing that’s been lacking for him. It will only benefit him and us if he can get out there to play games.
“It’s a short-term deal which will get him out on the pitch, and when he comes back it’ll give him a great chance to try and force his way into the team. He’ll be involved in a very competitive level of football and I have no doubt he will conduct himself in a professional manner.”
“He’s going to a good club and it’s another example of how we can build relationships with other teams in our area,” he commented. “We don’t have a development squad, and we don’t compete in a regular reserve league, so the players who aren’t getting the maximum game time need to be topped up.
“The loan window is closed, under the new rules, so players at our level can only go out to non-league clubs if they want to do that. It becomes important that we find the right club to send our players to and that they will be there to be involved in a good standard of competitive football. We think that's what we have for Russ with this move."
Penn will not feature in FA Cup fixtures for Gateshead and is subject to normal recall procedures (no recall permitted within the first 28-day period).
