New United signing Andy Welsh (AW) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Paul Newton (PN) this evening after signing a two-year deal with Carlisle, Welsh first speaking about his move up to Cumbria from Somerset :
PN
You have been doing a bit of househunting this week, but you are back home now?
AW
Yeah, I had a good day of househunting yesterday, hopefully found the place we are going to live, but it has been a tough three days, having little Lily with us as well. So, I am sure she can forgive us for the last three days having her here, there and everywhere.
PN
Yeah, I am sure, of course you have just recently become a Dad to little Lily, six weeks old I think she is now?
AW
I think it is seven today I am told by Rebecca, but I am still arguing it is six.
PN
Women tend to know these things, so just agree, I think that is the best policy. Of course we met Lily at the news conference on Wednesday, how important was family now in making that decision not to sign with Yeovil and making the return north if you like?
AW
Yeah, I think it was, I think in some respects today proved that, it took us four and a half hours to get from Manchester back down to Yeovil. But, it wasn't all about that decision, a lot of it was to do with the football side of things as well. Obviously, speaking to Greg Abbott, the gaffer now at Carlisle, and him convincing me that this is a good place for me to come and play my football and hopefully move up the league to the Championship, with either Carlisle or who knows if I am playing well enough.
But, I am really looking froward to my time and the way that he is building the squad, he has kept all the players from last year that won the Johnstone's Paint and he is looking to add to the squad again, which can only be good. I don't think in this division this year there are any Southamptons or any Brightons, there is no real massive team I think will run away with it. Sheffield United have just come down and I think money-wise they are struggling at the minute, so I think we could surprise a few next year.
PN
It was pretty clear that you enjoyed a good relationship with your manager (Terry Skiverton) and with the supporters down there, considering that how difficult a decision has it been to leave Yeovil?
AW
Yeah, it was a very difficult decision, we have been settled here for the last three years. But, I just think that I had had a chat with Rebecca quite a lot regarding this, and obviously my Mum and Dad who haven't been able to come and watch me as much as they can do because it is so far away. Just little things like that, I want to be able to concentrate on my football just as much as I have been doing, but with little Lily along we may need that little bit of help as well so I can do that.
So, I just felt the decision, I still 100% believe it is the right decision I have made, it was a difficult decision because everyone at Yeovil has been fantastic. The supporters I have been great, I have always had a good rapport with the supporters at most clubs I have gone to and these have been great with me as well. So, it was a difficult decision but for me now I would like to forget what has gone on in the past with other clubs, which I always do, and I am really looking forward to my time up in Cumbria.
PN
Has Greg Abbott indicated to you that he has brought you in specifically to play in any one position? Because, of course you spent a large part of last season being deployed on the right and of course you are a naturally left-footed player?
AW
Yeah, obviously speaking to the gaffer that is one of the things that pleases him with regards to signing myself, is that I can play a number of positions. My main asset is I am a left-footed player and I have played the majority of my career on the left-wing. But, I think if things aren't going so well then I can adapt to certain formations, playing at the top of a diamond, playing right-wing. Like the last game of the season against Carlisle I was playing left wing-back. So, over my career I have learned a number of roles and I am versatile, I am a versatile attacking player, which I think is what the gaffer is pleased with he has brought in.
PN
Yeah, along with that versatility, what else would you say your strengths are for the benefit of those who maybe haven't seen you play?
AW
In the last three years at Yeovil I have topped the assist charts there, and in terms of getting the assists I think I have been in the top ten of the league every year. So, in terms of creating goals, I want to be judged on creating goals, I will chip in with a fair few but that is my main asset, is creating goals from corners and inswinging free-kicks, things like that. So, I would say that that is my main asset, getting to the by-line and getting crosses in. So, I will just say that for me to have a good season I know I need to get at least ten assists each season.
PN
You have spoken this week about your ambition to get back to playing at the highest level, how much of a motivation is that for you?
AW
Oh, it is a massive motivation, I have had a taste of it with Sunderland and I enjoyed every minute of it. But, at the time I don't think I realised what an opportunity it was playing week in and week out in the Premiership. Now that is a major goal for me and I pray to God that I can get back to that level, and I think I will do if I am doing the right things at Carlisle over my period here. I am sure that as long as I am performing hopefully the team will be doing well and hopefully we can surprise a few people.
PN
And speaking of your new team, of course you came up against them twice last season, what did you make of the United side?
AW
I remember the one that notably stuck out for me was the game before the Johnstone's Paint final and it was on a Tuesday night. I think I spoke to someone about this the other day, the game before you have got a big final at Wembley you would get a lot of teams who would come down to Yeovil on a Tuesday night and think that they didn't fancy it because they want to be playing in the final and they wouldn't give it a go at all.
But, we won on the night 1-0 and it couldn't be further from the truth in terms of the scoreline because we were under a lot of pressure I think in the last 20-25 minutes. I remember thinking what a good passing side and they were trying to get the ball wide, to the wide players, I think Ben Marshall was playing that day and I think (Matty) Robson was as well, I think he played on the left. So, I just remember they liked to use the wide players a lot in that game especially, but the last game of the season it was two teams with not much to play for and I wasn't going to go off that to be honest with you.
PN
Just finally, what are the plans for you and the family between now and when you meet up with your new team-mates for pre-season training?
AW
Well, my best friend is getting married on the 18th of June in Paris, so we are going to go over there for three days. But, other than that we are not going to be gettng away, with little Lily it is going to be difficult so we are just going to try to relax and get things ready for the big move at the end of the month.