Former Carlisle boss Paul Simpson has praised Keith Curle for steadying the ship at his old club and believes the Blues are capable of aiming for promotion.

Simpson, who led England's Under-20s to World Cup glory this summer, was back at Brunton Park on Saturday.

The 51-year-old gave a presentation on his successful international campaign to a Blues business club meeting, and then performed the half-time draw during the 3-0 win against Cheltenham.

And Simpson admitted he was impressed with the job his former team-mate Curle is doing at United so far.

"He's done a fantastic job, hasn't he?," said Carlisle-born Simpson.

"There's been a huge turnaround of players, but he seems to be making some good signings.

"It doesn't seem to have really advanced as a club [since my time here], but the team seems to be in a really steady state."

On Curle, he added: "I played for Wolves with Keith and he was always leader, a captain, wherever he was.

"I've never worked for or with him in management but I imagine he's quite a strong personality, a strong character who will demand 100 per cent all the time.

"That's what you've got to have. If you don't demand that from people, and players aren't prepared to give that, you've got a real problem.

"I imagine he's quite demanding. His Chester sides were always well-drilled and that's what he will do here."

Simpson believes Carlisle have the potential to embark on another serious push to reach League One, having missed out in the play-offs last season.

The man who was in charge for the club's last promotion season in 2005/6 said: "Ninety per cent of last season they were right up there and it just fell away.

"There's certainly potential to go again at this club, to go to the next level.

"There's a fanbase that, if you can tap into it, you've got a real chance of getting some good support.

"You're back to a good starting point now and hopefully, having made lots of changes in the last couple of summers, Keith will get to a point where he feels confident enough to go and have a right push."

Simpson admitted he enjoyed being back at Brunton Park on Saturday but insisted it had not been a particularly emotional day.

"I've got a lot of good memories, but it's football, you move on," he said.

"It was a great period in my life but it's nice to come and watch a game of football and be relaxed here at Carlisle, which is not a feeling I had very often here, because you rarely do as a manager."