Carlisle United can confirm that academy second years Josh Dixon and Keighran Kerr have been offered professional contracts as their two-year scholarship period with the club draws to a close.
The pair, both attack-minded (Dixon plays in midfield), have joined second year winger Liam McCarron in the professional ranks.
McCarron, who was 18 last month, signed an 18-month contract [with an option] in January this year and has already made 20 first team appearances for the club.
Highly-rated forward Dixon, who turned 18 in March, has battled back from a cruciate ligament injury and will take his place with the senior squad on their return for pre-season.
Kerr, 19 in November, a regular on the scoresheet for the under-18s, had his first taste of the first team environment when he took a place on the bench for last weekend’s away game at Stevenage.
First year defender Jarrad Branthwaite, 17 in June, became the first of next year’s group to secure a deal when he signed a two-year contract [with an option] which keeps him at the club until at least the summer of 2021 at the end of February this year.
Meanwhile second years Liam Brockbank, Ceiran Casson, Jay Kelly, Belchior Papa and Regan Ward will be released on the completion of their scholarship programme.
Making the step up to the second-year ranks next season will be Jamie Armstrong, Charlie Barnes, Charlie Birch, Taylor Charters, Josh Galloway, Liam Lighfoot, Ben McLachlan, Kyle Soper and Tom Wilson.
Making the step up from the club’s academy to join us as first-year scholars will be Lewis Bell, Elliott Day, Keelan Leslie, Isaac Robinson, Lewis Rooks, Roan Steele, Ryan Swailes and Adam Walton.
The club wishes all of the above named players the very best for the future.
We’ll have reaction to this news later this week.
