Tom Piatak says Carlisle United will have the financial strength to build a promotion team in League Two next season.
The Blues’ owner and chairman says Paul Simpson will be armed with a ‘League One budget’ to bounce back from relegation.
And Piatak says at least a play-off finish is the target for 2024/25, when United return to the fourth tier.
Simpson said this weekend that he expected Carlisle’s purchasing power to be in the mid-table of League Two.
However, Piatak was more emphatic in his assertion that United would have enough to top the division.
‘FAR HIGHEST MEANS’
After saying: “I don’t think anyone knows what a mid-table League Two budget looks like at the moment,” he added: “The football operations will be well funded – by far the highest they have ever had .
“[In February I was asked] if we were preparing a budget for League One and League Two [depending on what division we would be in for 2024/25].
“I said, ‘No, we are preparing a League One budget’. Our budget has not changed from that League One budget.
“I believe that the football operations will have all the financial resources to ensure success next year. And success is in the top six… in the play-offs, or automatic promotion, is what we are aiming for.
“Those are our ambitions, goals, objectives. The means, financially speaking, are there to achieve that – there are no ifs or buts about that.”
Piatak has reaffirmed the regime’s confidence in Simpson to oversee the necessary improvements over the summer, when significant work is expected in the transfer window.
He said that despite Carlisle’s season falling below expectations, there was not enough to convince the owners to change anything.
The American businessman says the team’s performance should “improve next year” and expects the football staff to follow the “process” that will lead to an improved recruitment structure.
However, Piatak stressed that United’s January signings were of the right caliber despite the deterioration in results since the winter window. He believes they can grow with more significant additions this summer.
AFTER JANUARY FRAME STRUGGLE
Asked how worrying it was that results had deteriorated mid-season despite the costs, he said: “It’s obviously very disappointing. It’s not what was expected.
“But when I sit there and look at the players and look at the performances, I see individual players shining, I see their efforts, I see the leadership emerging. I am happy with the purchases we made in January. I know not everyone will agree with me on that.
“That it didn’t come together very well [as we had hoped]…we can take responsibility for that, that was under our control.
United’s results deteriorated despite significant spending in January on players such as Luke Armstrong (Image: Barbara Abbott)
“We all know that the January transfer window was a very difficult period to bring these people together, in a very difficult situation where we are already last in the league, which is difficult, and to change the mentality and what is happening in the competition. the locker room and what happens on the field.
“It hasn’t happened, I can’t put my finger on exactly what it is, but I look at the individuals we’ve brought in… they’re all solid individuals, and we just need to supplement the team with some additional resources and then We have to change that to a winning mentality, a winning culture, and get back to work next year.
“If you look, [for example] at Lucas [Armstrong] He has worked hard at the front every match. We’re not giving him anything… there are certain gaps that we couldn’t fill in January, we just didn’t have to do it because it’s a difficult period and that hurt us.
“I am not making excuses, I am not satisfied with the performance and that must and will change in the summer.”
Piatak told the News & Star in February that there were internal targets at the club for the remainder of the season. He says these targets have been missed.
OBJECTIVES AND RESPONSIBILITY
When asked what responsibility would follow such an outcome, he said: “Yes, there were objectives. Yes, they were internal targets. Yes, they have not been fulfilled. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a reason and rationale behind it.
“I’m not happy that they didn’t get there, I don’t want to disguise it and say ten points in the second half.” [of the season] was a success, because it wasn’t.
“But if you look at all the problems we faced at the club, I think there was enough so that you can say we didn’t achieve the goal, but I see some nice aspects and I think we are turning things around to get moving the right way.” direction.
“When I look at the football management, and they are ultimately responsible for the performance on the pitch, I don’t think we could have had others here who could have done a better job.
“It was a bad situation. I can’t put my finger on why we didn’t take steps in the right direction after January, because I expected that and I think we should have. But it wasn’t enough to justify any kind of change.”
Some fans have called for a change of manager, while others continue to support Simpson.
SUPPORT FOR SIMPSON – AND RECRUITMENT
The owners remain supportive of the Cumbrian and Piatak added: “Yes, we have a lot of confidence in Paul.
“I am satisfied with the way it is done [the season overall] was managed…no. We didn’t get the results we wanted, we should have performed better, I think we should have had more than ten points in the second half. I think if you were to ask Paul, “Are you happy with that?” he would say no.
Paul Simpson (Image: Barbara Abbott)
“But I do believe he is the right person to take this club forward, and he has all the attributes and qualities we look for in a manager. Now it’s a matter of saying: ‘Paul, here are the resources, it’s a new start, a reset, let’s get started’ and I think next year will go well.”
Asked whether, given United’s failure in League One, the Piataks felt changes were needed in the supervision of the football department, the United owner said: “That is a difficult issue. Change of management can be difficult. Especially with the history of the English football league, it is not as simple as some companies in the United States might say.
“But we push and try to get people to step outside their comfort zone, to embrace new challenges, new directions and new ideas.
“That has to happen. We see. Sometimes we may have to push a little harder to get there, but we’ll see. You often hear: ‘Well, this is how we did it’. But things are changing a bit, people are embracing the change, but I’m not going to say it’s easy.
“To get to that point, you have to see some results, and then people start to believe in it. Unfortunately we haven’t had that yet. The recruitment process will start this summer.
“We are actively involved in the process. We won’t be the ones selecting the players, but we are going to ensure that the process is followed and that the team steps out of their comfort zone and looks for individuals that they may not have looked for in the past. ”
When asked if they have confidence in the club’s existing staff to adapt and achieve success in that area, Piatak said: “Specifically when we look at the recruitment aspect, Paul oversees that, and we have discussed that with spoke to him.
“We believe so, by following the process we have the team that can execute it.
“Time will tell, but if for even a moment we felt like we didn’t, there would be a change right now. Here is the process, please follow it, implement it, let’s make sure we have good and open discussions about every player we look at.
“They embrace it. Time will tell. It has to be done. Performance must improve next year, there are no ifs or buts about that.”
Asked how United can limit the risk of a losing culture continuing next season which will lead to further problems in League Two, the owner said: “We are changing a lot. Look at the football activities: next year significant changes are taking place in that team.
“We have eighteen players under contract… that doesn’t mean all eighteen will be here. We have to make sure we have the right players and then bring some of them in.
“You’re seeing some pretty significant changes. Between the January window and the summer, you could see a whole new squad between the two. How do you get rid of that?
“It starts with the culture – you have to have a positive company culture, a positive club culture, everyone has to be supportive, everyone has to have everyone’s back, everyone has to know they are supported and we are. moving in the right direction. That starts at the top.
“We do everything we can to make that possible. If for some reason I see that this is not happening, that we are not all moving step by step in the right direction, then change would happen.
“But I believe we can make that happen. We are very, very positive, optimistic individuals, we believe in upfront investment, and that investments will pay off in the end, rather than always waiting and investing later.
“We believe in investing, being active, being involved, but the culture has to change. We can’t walk in with a losing, negative culture. I don’t think we will, we won’t let that happen. That’s where it all starts.
“With the turnover [of the squad] and if we all drive in the right direction, I believe we can enter the new [season] and not thinking about how we finished and performed this year.