With United’s front of shirt sponsor changing to local firm Thomas Graham next season, director of football David Holdsworth went on record this week with a thank you to EWM, who had held the sponsorship for just over four years.
“I can only thank EWM for what they’ve done in the period of time I’ve been here,” he said. “I know for a fact that everyone at Carlisle United is very grateful for the support EWM have given them.
“They are a company that’s had a tough time and have come through it, I wish them every success in the future. As for the way forward, that’s going to be for the Holdings board and whoever else, but it’s not affecting me, in terms of how I go about my business. I’m confident, and I’ve spoken to the people that I need to speak to, I’m very happy with where we are.”
“In terms of investment, I think that will come out in the wash, at the relevant time,” he added. “I’m working to make sure this club is financially secure in terms of what we have to spend, and I’m extremely confident we can keep working hard.
“We have to work extra hard, because we don’t have huge funds, but it doesn’t bother me one iota. We’ve proved this season we can do what perhaps a Leicester did. Without the consequences of a dreadful period of time that nobody could have foreseen coming, I believe in what we’ve got here, and what we will have will be the same.
“The DNA has got to be hard work, passion, roll your sleeves up, and that Cumbrian spirit will give our supporters - who we dearly miss on our terraces - an extra 15% in the way they get behind us.
“When they come to Brunton Park the managers in front of that Paddock normally go away with a headache, that’s not been the case this year, but we thank the community for the support they’ve given us.”
On when we can expect to see the new kits, he said: “They will be launched officially in early to mid-June. We’re delighted to have an agreement in place with Thomas Graham. It’s an exciting period with a fantastic local company.
“Roger Smith and I had a really good conversation. I’m delighted that he spoke to his family and that they’ve come on board. It’s a strong local company and we’re delighted we got to an agreement. The shirts, in the last three years I’ve been very pleased with how they’ve gone about in sales, but also the colours, the fans have embraced that.
“We’ve got two strong kits coming our way. The home kit I think will be a really good seller, and the away kit’s something new and exciting for us to wear next year. The sad thing for me, last year’s kit when I did the deal out in Italy, the orange kit is vibrant, I was desperate to have an orange army that resembled the Dutch army in the 70s and 80s, when the Dutch kit was vibrant colour.
“Unfortunately our fans haven’t been able to embrace that. Nobody could see a lockdown coming, so that was tough to take.
“This year we’re delighted, Roger’s really pleased with the kit, we’re looking forward to that. We went with Thomas Graham because I wanted the local company. It sprang out to me that Roger Smith was the main man to go to.
“It was a no-brainer. Roger’s face tells the picture. He’s delighted to be with us. It might stimulate others to come on board as well, we’re looking at getting more sponsorship and commercial deals, our finger’s on the pulse. That’s why Roger Smith was a no-brainer.”
