Carlisle United

Swindon v Carlisle
New Swindon boss Paul Sturrock has doubts over the fitness of top-scorer Lee Peacock (illness) and defender Jamie Vincent (hamstring). Phil Smith will play in goal as Preston do not want on-loan keeper Andy Lonergan to become cup-tied, but Curtis Weston is available after suspension. Carlisle midfielder Paul Thirlwell is a big doubt with a groin problem. But striker Karl Hawley came through his comeback game last weekend without problem following a rib injury.

McDonald hoping to lure signings
Carlisle manager Neil McDonald says is desperate to attract loan signings to the club ahead of this Thursday's transfer deadline. McDonald is hoping the club's return to form will lure players to Brunton Park. He told the News and Star: \"If somebody can't get in their team, this is the perfect place to come. \"It's a big week for us now and I have got to be a pest with other managers and coaches to see if they'll let one of their players come and play for us.\"

Carlisle v Port Vale
Defender James Krause is in the Carlisle squad after joining on loan from Ipswich but may have settle for a place on the bench. On-loan winger Kevin Harper has shaken off a dead leg and should retain his place in the starting XI, but Paul Murray and David Raven are still out. On-loan defender Clayton Fortune is expected to make his Port Vale debut. Colin Miles limped off in the last game but he has now returned to full fitness and is expected to line up.

Swansea v Carlisle
Swansea have fitness doubts over Izzy Iriekpen, Tom Williams and on-loan Birmingham left-back Marcos Painter. And Tom Butler (hamstring), Owain Tudur Jones (knee), Darren Way (shin) and Garry Monk are all out but skipper Darren Pratley is back after a ban. Carlisle will hand a debut to on-loan Ipswich defender James Krause as Peter Murphy and Zigor Aranalde are banned. Paul Arnison and David Raven are both fit again so Danny Livesey should move back to the centre of defence.

Winger Hackney undergoes surgery
Carlisle winger Simon Hackney will miss the next three to four months of the season after having surgey. He had an operation to repair a fracture to his ariticular cartilage. The 22-year-old pulled out of training last week complaining of soreness in his knee and had to sit on the bench at the weekend. Hackney joined Carlisle in February 2005 from Woodley Sports after playing as a trialist in two reserve games for the Cumbrians, scoring in both matches. He has made 21 appearances for the Cumbrians this season.

Blackpool 2-1 Carlisle
A fine first-half performance helped Blackpool to victory against Carlisle. Carlisle conceded after just six minutes when Peter Murphy guided the ball into his own net. Blackpool doubled their lead when Andy Morrell surged forward and crossed for Keigan Parker to slide in for his 10th goal of the season. United keeper Keiren Westwood made two two good saves before Karl Hawley pulled one back with a powerful 15 yard shot but Blackpool held on to win. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Blackpool: Evans, Barker, Jackson, Evatt, Wilkinson (Fernandez 51), Forbes (Jorgensen 66), Fox, Southern, Hoolahan, Parker, Morrell (Burgess 77). Subs Not Used: Vernon, Bean. Booked: Parker, Evans. Goals: Murphy 5 og, Parker 29. Carlisle: Westwood, Raven, Gray (Livesey 73), Murphy, Aranalde, Lumsdon, Billy (Joyce 60), McDermott (Hindmarch 81), Gall, Hawley, Holmes. Subs Not Used: Williams, Arnison. Booked: Lumsdon, McDermott, Raven. Goals: Hawley 73. Att: 9,473. Ref: G Laws (Tyne & Wear).

Carlisle v Bradford
Carlisle striker Derek Holmes faces a fitness test ahead of the New Year's Day visit of Bradford. Holmes was substituted early in the second half of United's 2-1 win at Brighton after suffering a knock to his leg in a challenge with Joel Lynch. Bradford captain David Wetherall will not make the trip to Carlisle following his red card against Cheltenham. Ben Muirhead is available after serving a three-match ban but fellow midfielder Joe Colbeck is out with tonsillitis.

Rochdale sign Carlisle's Murray
Rochdale have signed Carlisle striker Glenn Murray for an undisclosed fee. The 23-year-old was on loan at Spotland but has agreed a deal which will see him stay at the club until the summer of 2009. He joined Carlisle in December 2004 and made 56 appearances and scored six goals for the club despite being mainly used as a substitute. Murray has played just two games for Rochdale this term and earlier this season went on loan to Stockport.

Atkin joins Carlisle from Magpies
Carlisle have signed Newcastle defender Liam Atkin, reports SSB. The 20-year-old central defender played for the Cumbrians' reserves in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Preston earlier this week. The League One side have now taken over the remainder of Atkin's Magpies contract, which was due to run until the end of this season. "We've had a good look at him and we are happy to have him here," boss Neil McDonald told Carlisle's website. Atkin came up through the Magpies' youth ranks but has not made a first-team appearance.

Carlisle sign Middlesbrough star
Carlisle have beaten off competition from seven clubs to sign talented Middlesbrough academy star John Seaton. The 15-year-old central midfielder has signed a pre-contract agreement following his release from the Middlesbrough youth setup. He will join the Cumbrians' YTS ranks at the start of next season. Carlisle's head of youth Eric Kinder said: "It's a good coup for us and John has been very unlucky in terms of the players he was up against at Boro." He added: "They have arguably the best youth academy in the country and I'm really pleased to sign him because he's a lad with massive potential."

Cumbrians delight boss McDonald
Carlisle United boss Neil McDonald says his team have already achieved their main aim this season because they won't be relegated. United are currently ninth in League One and six points off the play-off places following Friday's 2-0 win over Tranmere. McDonald told the club's website: "We've done our job. We're staying the in the league we are in. "Now we can look at our second goal, which is the play-offs."

Williams eyeing Wrexham contract
On-loan Wrexham goalkeeper Anthony Williams hopes that his move from Carlisle United will be made permanent at the end of the season. "I'm out of contract in the summer and I won't be staying at Carlisle," Williams told Wrexham's website. "I want to do a job for Wrexham and hopefully stay here longer." Williams, 29, has kept four clean sheets in six games since joining Wrexham and helped the Dragons to three wins in their bid to beat the drop.

McDonald lets four players leave
Carlisle United have released four players and offered two new contracts after the end of the season. Liam Atkin, Kevin Gray, Derek Holmes and Paul Murray have all been told by manager Neil McDonald that they can find new clubs for next season. Peter Murphy has been given a final improved contract offer and has agreed to give his answer by Friday 11 May. Striker Karl Hawley has also been given a final offer and will also give his answer on Friday.

Carlisle upbeat over Graham deal
Carlisle United manager Neil McDonald says he is confident of signing former Middlesbrough striker Danny Graham. Graham, 21, scored seven goals in 11 games during a loan spell with Carlisle at the start of 2007 and has now been released by Boro. Other clubs are watching Graham but McDonald told the News and Star: "We have known about that for a while. "We are still in good dialogue with his representatives and we are getting closer every time we speak."

Carlisle dismiss manager McDonald
Carlisle United have sacked manager Neil McDonald after just one match of the new League One season. McDonald had taken over at Brunton Park in June 2006 following Paul Simpson's move to Preston, and led the Cumbrians to eighth place last season. The shock move was revealed in a statement on the club's website. "The board of Carlisle United regret to say that they have lost confidence in Neil McDonald and are terminating his contract forthwith," it read. "They thank him for his hard work at the club and wish him all the best for his future career. Greg Abbott has been appointed as caretaker manager." The dismissal comes just two days after the Cumbrians began the new season with a 1-1 draw at Walsall - having broken their transfer record to sign Blackburn striker Joe Garner for £140,000 on Friday. Having annouced McDonald's exit on Monday morning, the club issued a second statement later that afternoon - insisting that it would have no effect on the Garner transfer. "The termination of the contract is not a knee-jerk reaction, and is not part of any disciplinary action," it read.

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