United Gowling To Win The Hand

Josh Gowling

Just 24 hours after seeing the dark side of the Bosman ruling with the forced sale of Keiren Westwood to Coventry, United have today seen things work in their favour with the free transfer signing of, coincidentally, Coventry-born Gowling. The 6'3 defender linking up with the Cumbrians on a two-year deal after rejecting two improved contract offers with the relegated Cherries, who dropped into League Two after failing to win at Carlisle on the final day of last season.

Gowling started his career with West Brom where he rose through the youth ranks before eventually being released at the age of 19. The centre-half then going on trial with Herfolge in Denmark, the link there being that the chairman of the club at the time was former Albion director Clive Stapleton. Josh spending two years in the Danish Superliga before returning to England with Bournemouth on a trial basis in the pre-season of 2005-06.

Another link there being that former Baggies coach Richard O'Kelly was now the assistant manager for the Cherries. That leading to Gowling being signed immediately after a transfer embargo caused by an impending court case was lifted. The defender penning an initial 12-month deal, that was then extended by a further two years the following February.

Despite suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament early in the 2005-06 season that ended his campaign, Gowling would go on to make 83 starts, eleven substitute appearances, and score one goal in his three years at the Fitness First stadium. The West Midlander now choosing to leave the south coast in order to continue his career at League One level.

Gowling telling the Bournemouth Echo about his long move north :

"They (Carlisle) just missed out on promotion last season so hopefully they can go one better next season. I've been at Bournemouth for the past three seasons. When I first came, it looked like they were going places but then, in the space of 18 months, the club has not gone the way it should have.

"I made some great friends at the club and it's a second home to me so I'll be really sad to leave. The fans were always great with me. They made me feel really welcome and part of the club so I'd like to say thank you for that because they've been magic with me.

"I won't leave with my head held too high because we were relegated and I was a part of that. You want to leave a club on a successful note and I haven't done that. It wasn't a decision I came to lightly but hopefully it was the right one."

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