Carlisle United can confirm Paul Hart has joined the club as an advisor to the Board.
Paul brings a wealth of football experience to the club having played, coached, and managed across all levels of English Football over the past 55 years. This has covered a range of leagues in both first team and academy roles.
Until recently, Paul was Assistant Manager at Charlton Athletic in League One under Nathan Jones. This was a position he held from February 2024, until stepping down from the role in August of the same year.
He was part of the backroom staff at Luton Town in the Championship during the 2020/21 campaign, which was his second stint at Kenilworth Road. Prior to that, Paul was Assistant Manager at Stoke City, again in England’s second division. From 2016-2018, he was at Luton during their rise through the EFL, with a second spell at Notts County as Technical Director also during that time.
In August 2015, Hart joined Leeds United as Academy Director and Under-21s' Manager. Throughout his first stint at Notts County - initially employed as Acting Academy Manager - he served as Caretaker Manager. Paul was also appointed as Academy Director at Charlton Athletic in June 2011, and would stay at The Valley until May 2014.
Between 2009 and 2011, Hart held three separate managerial positions at Swindon Town, Crystal Palace and Queen's Park Rangers. This followed a spell at Portsmouth, where he was appointed as Director of Youth Operations. During a two-year spell from 2004 to 2006, Hart also managed Barnsley and Rushden and Diamonds, after taking charge of Nottingham Forest's Academy.
His first academy-related role came at Leeds United, where he won the FA Youth Cup in 1993 and 1997 during a five-year stay with the club. Hart's first managerial position was with Chesterfield in 1988, before exiting the club early in 1991. In his playing career, he amassed a total of 567 league appearances at Birmingham City, Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Blackpool.
Paul joins on a consultancy basis to support and assist the Board of Directors in a senior football advisory role. He will operate in a part-time and internal facing capacity.
Hart will bring the benefit of his expertise and vast experience to the Board, on key strategic footballing matters, to help shape and support the club’s long-term football vision. He will serve as a sounding board, providing an independent perspective. He will not be part of the club’s day-to-day football operations.
After joining the club, Paul said “I am delighted to be able to assist the Board and give my support when called upon. I am really looking forward to helping wherever I can, as the Board require.”
Chairman, Tom Piatak said: “We are really pleased to have Paul on board. He has the experience and credentials at all football levels and across all aspects of the game. We have already had the benefit of Paul’s input during the recent review, and he will be a valuable addition and asset to the Board, and in turn the club going forward.”
Everyone at Carlisle United welcomes Paul.
