John Ward - Radio Cumbria Interview

John Ward

" It is important to get off to a good start, particularly after missing out as we did last year. A lot of eyes would be looking on us, not just in Cumbria but around the football world about how Carlisle were going to deal with that. I think that we have dealt with it exceptionally well, the mood at the training ground has been very, very good and the two results in tough games away from home.

" With the next cup draw being away from home that has given us four out of the first five on our travels. So we have to be strong and we are still going to have to be, but I'm very, very pleased with the way that the players have gone about their work. Not just on the two games but through the training ground, the mood is good and hopefully this good start will turn into something even better for us.

" We wouldn't go into any game expecting to get beat, we like the idea of going to Queens Park Rangers. We think that it is a really tough one for our supporters, obviously a Tuesday night and the journey. For the team though it is something that we will relish and we will take on. I think that the ground is a great ground, it is very tight and close to the pitch.

" The atmosphere in the ground, whether there is a big crowd or not will be good under lights. We are putting ourselves up against some very good players and people who expect to be possibly in the Premier League at the end of this season. So it is a challenge and that is the reason we wanted to do well against Shrewsbury and make sure that we get this football challenge for ourselves. "

" I think we could have expected a better draw and there is no point saying any different. We looked at that, particularly in this draw, when the draw came up on the screen and you saw that Carlisle were already away before the actual draw had been made. I find it amazing, I know there are seedings and the way that they have done it but you are then looking and you know that you are going to come out later because that bit has already been done.

" People like Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough were already gone so you knew that you were probably going to get a tricky one. Not only a tricky one, but it is a heck of a journey. I think that after Leyton Orient on the Saturday I feel very much for our supporters that want to go and see those kind of games and follow our football team.

" There is possibly a case for having it regionalised but there is also a case for just drawing it properly. If they want to come up with these, I think that Yeovil are away coming up to Middlesbrough so they have got a massive journey as well, and they play us the following Saturday. So they are going to be great travellers, and the smaller clubs like ourselves can't really keep doing that, and it is tough for supporters.

" So there is a case for that but if they are not going to regionalise it just draw it home and away, and let's all get on with it and take the luck of the draw as we do in the FA Cup. It seems strange to me though that there was a pre-draw and that some teams were home and some were away, but probably I am only griping because we are away aren't we.

" When I saw the away draw initially that was a let's hope it is a Newcastle, Middlesbrough or Sunderland and we can enjoy that, get across country and have a big game. When you see it is at QPR though, I just feel for the supporters. We do have a great following, particularly on the road, for Carlisle, it's massively expensive and on a Tuesday night that has got to be off work and a late back and the lot for supporters, so I feel greatly for them. "

" I think that some supporters don't feel the season starts until we are at home and quite rightly so. The home game is the one that they have all been waiting for. We took a good crowd down to Bristol Rovers with us and a good crowd to Shrewsbury, but for the bulk of our supporters, the main supporters of Carlisle United come to the home games and that is absolutely right. So tomorrow we have got to put on a show and put on a performance for them if we possibly can. Because it is the game that the majority of our supporters have been looking forward to for a long time.

" We have been fine in training this week, everybody has been OK. We've been in a good mood and good banter as you can imagine coming off two away games. The point was made very strongly though this morning to everybody that that is fine but everything has to be continued and pushed on at the game tomorrow.

" Chris Lumsdon had his injection today but he won't be fit for tomorrow, we are going to be without Chris obviously for that game. Grant Smith has trained this week, he has been fine, but it's too early tomorrow, he will play in the reserve game on Monday and we will look towards him for the following week. We are pleased to get Grant Smith back into good fitness though and that will be a plus for next week.

"Shaun Vipond we have allowed to go to Workington on loan for a month as well today, so there are one or two little bits and pieces happening. He is a young boy trying to find his way obviously, and to get into this group is difficult for him. He finished last season with a quite long-term injury, we have got that cleared up now, he is fit and well and has done a full pre-season.

" Obviously though pushing into the first-team is really tough for him, so Darren (Edmondson) gave us a call and we said yes to them taking him for a month. Hopefully the young fellow will get a lot of football, it's a good team, they have already beaten us once so we know that they are a good side. I know how they play at Workington so we are pleased to allow Shaun to do that. "

" We are still open, still working and still talking on transfers. I talked to a couple of clubs today to see if there is any possibilities of players. We will be going back on Monday to see if we can continue that, but first and foremost we will get Saturday sorted out.

" You can wonder if we could have got as much for Joe Garner as Nicky Maynard but what is the point, it doesn't get you anywhere. The club at Carlisle decided to make that situation public so all the speculation and all the wonderment stopped in its tracks and let people know. I think that the supporters appreciated that, that we let them know some of the difficulties and some of the situations surrounding the moves and contracts and organisations.

" So it can make you wonder, but what is the point. We had Joe for a year, he did terrifically well for us, the deal was all in place in terms of the contract for how it was done when we brought Joe into the football club and that was how it had to be. So for me, it's just fine, deal with it, get on with it, and work away at your football club in trying to make it better.

" He (Danny Carlton) scored a good goal in training this morning as well so hopefully he is keeping it going. Danny has taken his chance, we talked at length at the end of last season, he had found it very difficult to get into the side and that was fine. He understood that, the team was in the top six throughout and it was a tough one to break into.

" He and I spoke at length and I told him that I wanted him to come back with a good mood and a good attitude towards it. You have seen that for yourselves, he has done that right from day one and the lad is in good form and looking very strong. So Joe moving on opens doors for other people and it's up to them to take their chance. Hopefully Danny has taken his early on and will continue to do so. "