Carlisle Sack Manager - John Ward

[Matt]

Carlisle United have today parted company with manager John Ward by mutual consent.

The club thank John for his service over the last 13 months but after suffering 10 defeats and a draw in our last 11 games - a run which has seen us slide from second to 20th in the League One table - we agreed the time had come for us to go our separate ways.

Assistant manager Greg Abbott has immediately been appointed caretaker manager with the full backing of everyone at the club.

Greg had been hugely disappointed not to get the manager's job here on a full-time basis last season after having been caretaker manager following Neil McDonald's departure until John Ward's appointment. That was despite having won five and drawn two of his 10 games in charge.

We would ask all Carlisle United fans to give their full backing to Greg and the squad, starting with Saturday's FA Cup first round tie at home to Grays Athletic.

Not too much to concern us, but as a team in our league thought i'd post it.

[Uncle Albert]

Carlisle United have parted company with manager John Ward by mutual consent after 13 months in charge.

Ward, 57, leaves Brunton Park following a run of nine defeats in their last 10 League One games, the latest being Saturday's 3-0 defeat by Stockport.

He led the Cumbrians to the League One play-offs last season, where they lost 3-2 on aggregate to Leeds United in the semi-finals.

Assistant manager Greg Abbott has been put in caretaker charge of the side.

Pressure had been building on Ward since the tail-end of last season when Carlisle won just two of their last 10 games, despite making the play-offs.

Carlisle then started this season well and won four of their first five games to go second in the table before defeat at S****horpe signalled the beginning of their disastrous run.

However the board had remained supportive of the manager right up to Saturday's defeat, indeed stating last Thursday that they backed Ward and his team to recover from the slump.

"Carlisle United are a club that has been through too many crises over the last decade or two but we remain confident that the current personnel at Brunton Park can lead us out of the present situation," the club's official statement read.

Ward took the reins at Carlisle after steering Cheltenham Town into League One and then securing them safety the following season.

Prior to that appointment Ward had managed York City, Bristol City, Bristol Rovers and had a spell as caretaker manager at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Cumbrians are currently 20th in the League One table, just one point above the relegation zone.

[Craig]

I fear for this thread

[The People's Hero]

Gavin.....

[Brainy]

Greg Abbott did a decent job the last time he was caretaker manager of Carlisle IIRC.

[dandannieldanok]

The dreaded vote of confidence strikes again

[Corky]

I've been really stunned by Carlisle's dip in form. At the start of September they were next to us, now they are 14 points and 15 places below us. Incredible.