January Irish businessman John Courtenay, a friend and distant relative of Roddy Collins meets the United boss in a Dublin pub and discuss the possibility of Courtenay taking over the club from Michael Knighton. Talks begin and by the end of the month it seems an agreement is in place for Courtenay to take over. Meanwhile, a watching Courtenay sees Carlisle go unbeaten for five games as they climb away from the foot of the league, the highlight being a 6-1 thrashing of Leyton Orient. February The Courtenay takeover hits a few snags as a series of deadlines expires without a deal being finalised. But the players aren't too concerned as they continue to improve and move well clear of the bottom of the table. Darlington impose a 3-1 defeat in front of the biggest gate of the season but the Cumbrians bounce back quickly to defeat Exeter and Torquay United. The club is still operating under a transfer embargo. March Another series of delays dog the Courtenay takeover saga. The two men meet by videophone as their respective teams of lawyers attempt to thrash out an agreement. 24 hours before a game at Lincoln Roddy Collins "resigns" but is persuaded by Courtenay to continue after he and Collins meet Knighton before the match. But the month ends on a high note for Collins when his side equalise in the final minute at Halifax to clinch the 2-2 draw that confirms their safety. April Carlisle fight back from 2-0 down to beat Macclesfield 3-2 on Easter Monday. Five days later following a 1-0 defeat at Shrewsbury Collins complains publicly on Radio Cumbria about the state of the takeover and director Mark Knighton sacks him a few hours later. Managerless United go to York on April 9 and collect a 0-0 draw with Billy Barr taking temporary charge of the team. Fans stage a large demo before, during and after the following Saturday's home game against Plymouth with hundreds staying outside the ground to boycott the game. Police make several arrests as trouble flares after the final whistle. The season ends with United in 17th position, their highest in four years. May Knighton appears on a Radio Cumbria phone-in with members of CCUIST, News & Star journalist Vic Gibson and John Courtenay. There are allegations of scuffling after the programme involving Knighton and Gibson. A special "non-confrontational" fans meeting held later at Brunton Park is also marred by fighting involving Mr Knighton. The Inland Revenue post a winding-up order against the football club at the end of the month for non-payment of £400,000 PAYE income tax. The crisis-hit Cumbrians release all of their out-of-contract players, leaving behind a wafer-thin squad of just 15 professionals, many of them rookies. June The club is placed into administration and comes under the control of accountancy firm BKR Haines Watts. Administrators David Elliott and David Walker say they have no plans to sell the club but express surprise when told of fans plans to boycott home games if Mr Knighton isn't removed from power. July
August With more players added, Carlisle kick off the new season in front of over 11,000 fans but lose 3-1 at home to Hartlepool. CCUIST and John Courtenay announce plans for the supporters trust to own up to 20 per cent of the shares in the club. The official supporters' club is relaunched after years in decline. United win back to back away games at Southend and Lincoln but the latter victory is marred by four sendings off, three of them United players and scuffles on the sidelines involving striker Richie Foran, chairman Courtenay and a group of stewards. This is now the subject of court action. Darren Kelly signs for a fee of £100,000 from Derry City. Mark Summerbell arrives on a free transfer from Middlesbrough. September A bad month for United who lose five games on the trot in the league and fail to score in over seven hours of football. A 4-2 defeat of Boston United on September 21 eventually ends the bad run but the Cumbrians have slipped into the bottom four by this stage. Molloy leaves the club under a cloud after just eight weeks. October CCUIST members vote to accept a share offer made by Courtenay which will require supporters to pump £400,000 into the club over a period of three years. An election begins to find the first supporters' representative. United sign Craig Farrell, Jon Sutton, Mark Magennis and Leon Osman. On loan Osman helps spark a revival with United securing an exciting 4-3 away win at Oldham in the LDV Vans Trophy. Stuart Whitehead signs for Darlington on a free transfer. November John Courtenay publicly appeals for more fans to turn up to home games admitting he is disappointed with the response so far. Alan Steel is elected to the board of Carlisle United as the CCUIST representative. United win successive league games for the first time since August. Lincoln City are defeated 2-1 in the First Round of the FA Cup despite the Cumbrians having Darren Kelly sent off in the early stages. United win four games in a row for the first time since 1997. Bury inflict a 2-1 defeat at Brunton Park to end the run on November 23. December United's fortunes plummet again as they miss out on a £100,000 Sky TV payment due to a frozen pitch at Brunton Park when their FA Cup replay with Scunthorpe is postponed. They then lose the re-arranged game 1-0 to miss out on another big windfall from a 3rd Round tie at home to Leeds. Craig Farrell makes his move from Leeds permanent with a £50,000 transfer. Mark Hudson signs on loan from Middlesbrough. Osman and Sutton return to their clubs when their loan periods expire. Defeat at Leyton Orient on December 28 means Carlisle have failed to win in six league games and they finish the year second from bottom of the Football League, exactly as they had started it. Pictures from News & Star |
