Carlisle United boss dismisses Huntington fall-out rumours

The Blues manager, who let the experienced defender go this week, said he had never had a single row with Huntington during his time at the club.

And Simpson also said an appearance clause in Huntington’s contract, which saw the 36-year-old fall short of triggering another year’s deal, was “not a factor” in his fate.

Carlisle-born Huntington was released on Monday after two seasons with the club, the big defender having captained United to promotion in 2022/23 before a more frustrating campaign in League One.

Asked about speculation that the appearance clause influenced any decision in his selection decisions during a campaign when the club skipper was not always a regular pick, Simpson said: “No – there was that in [his contract], but that was not a factor, not at all.

“I had conversations over the season with Hunts because he was talking to me about that, but no, that was not a factor.

“I don't do social media, you know that, but I've been made aware of loads of rumours about members of staff falling out, with me and him having a row. We have never had a row, not one single day.

“We've had conversations where I've questioned things that he's done or questioned things that he's asked me.

“But we have never had a row and my understanding is – and I've asked everybody, all the staff – nobody has had a row.

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“Especially in the world that we live in, when you're losing games of football, everybody wants to blame some individuals or certain individuals. Unfortunately, that's what's happened and that's something we have to just accept and deal with.”

Huntington captained United to Wembley glory in 2023 but was a less regular pick in League One (Image: Richard Parkes)

The decision to release Huntington removes United’s most experienced player from the squad, and Simpson admitted he will look to add more leadership figures to the squad in the shape of new signings.

“It has to be one of our priorities,” the manager said.

“I like to have leaders in the group, whether they're leaders by example or leaders by being vocal.

“The vocal ones are few and far between now in football, but we had people like Owen Moxon who was a leader the way he went about it, [albeit] he probably was unsettled [last season] because of the uncertainty about his situation.

“Callum Guy is a leader about the way he goes about it. So, we do have some leaders in there that we lost last season, but that's not the only reason why we struggled like we did.

“But certainly moving forward, we need to try and get some leaders in the team.

“You look at teams like Derby County – I know they're a different level to us as a football club – but you look at them and the experience that they had in their side to help them achieve promotion.

“So, we need to have experience in our side to help us to get promotion.”