United sign Bournemouth defender on two-year deal
Last updated 08:18, Friday, 20 June 2008
New Carlisle United defender Josh Gowling said he couldn’t get to Cumbria quickly enough when he heard the Blues wanted to make him their first summer signing.
The 24-year-old last night sealed his Bosman free transfer to United from relegated Bournemouth after rejecting interest from a host of other clubs, including Walsall.
Gowling has signed a two-year contract at Brunton Park and the pacy centre-half said he turned down more money on offer elsewhere to join United.
“When I came back off holiday I had an answerphone message from John Ward,” Gowling told The Cumberland News. “As soon as I heard it, I got onto my agent straight away and said, ‘Carlisle want me, can you sort it out?’
“I was so excited and I wanted to come up as soon as possible. The opportunity to join a team like Carlisle was too good to turn down.
“Bournemouth tried to keep me and offered me more money than Carlisle. But I told them and every other club I spoke to that my decision wasn’t going to be about where I was comfortable, or about money. It was always going to be a football decision and that meant Carlisle.”
Manager John Ward believes the Coventry-born player will provide high-class competition for established centre-halves Danny Livesey and Peter Murphy, and said Gowling can also fill in at right-back.
The arrival of the former West Brom youngster means Ward has cooled his interest in Barnsley’s Cumbrian defender Paul Reid and fellow former loan man Richard Keogh.
Gowling, who had a two-year spell with Danish side Herfølge before joining the Cherries in 2005, played for Bournemouth at Brunton Park in the final game of last season when Kevin Bond’s men were relegated after a 1-1 draw.
“That’s a feeling I never want again and there’s no way it’s ever going to happen at Carlisle,” said the defender, who clocked up 93 appearances for the south coast outfit. “It’s a successful club that’s going places.
“There were a few fans coming onto the pitch at the end of that game and I was a bit worried for a moment, but most of them were just patting me on the back, saying they were sorry we’d been relegated and wishing me all the best. For home fans to do that is credit to Carlisle.”
Gowling was at Carlisle on Wednesday for talks with John Ward and met defender Peter Murphy, who was training at Brunton Park ahead of pre-season which starts on Thursday, July 3. United’s League One season begins with a trip to Bristol Rovers on Saturday, August 9.
“Peter Murphy has had a bit of a traumatic time recently but credit to him – he was training and that shows what the lads here want to do for this club,” said Gowling.
“I know Scott Dobie from my time at West Brom and he only told me good things about the club and the place. I had a long chat with the manager and I really respect him. He’s straight down the line and a breath of fresh air for me.
“Whenever we played against Carlisle with Bournemouth, we were a bit fearful. They’ve got a good, strong team and I jumped at the chance to join them.”
Ward is hoping for news on other recruits today with a goalkeeper his top target after Wednesday’s £750,000 departure of Keiren Westwood. The Blues got £500,000 up front for the 23-year-old with the remainder linked to appearances and promotion. United have also secured a 25% sell-on clause in Westwood’s Sky Blues contract.
On Gowling, Ward said: “He is 6ft 3ins, has got some pace about him, is a clever young man and I think we have got an emerging and exciting player coming in.
“He is a central defender but he can fill in other positions across the back four. It gives us really good competition which is something I’ve been trying to do for some time.
“He will have learned a great deal with Bournemouth. Now he’s looking forward to trying to compete at the top level. He has got ambitions to do that and hopefully we can do it together.
“I’ve been talking to him on and off for four or five weeks now. He was wanted by other football clubs but I’m pleased we have got him.”
Ward is refusing to comment on a possible move for Cheltenham goalkeeper Shane Higgs, who is widely regarded as one of League One’s top custodians.
The United manager expects midfielders Luke Joyce and Grant Smith to sign new contracts at Brunton Park soon.
Released Blues right-back Paul Arnison this week signed a two-year deal with League Two side Bradford. The 30-year-old joined the Bantams despite interest from Darlington.
UNITED’S veterans lost both games on their inaugural appearance in the Northern Masters at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena on Sunday. Carlisle captain Paul Simpson scored against both Newcastle and Sunderland but couldn’t prevent the Cumbrians going down to 4-1 and 3-1 defeats respectively.
Jimmy Glass, Dean Walling, Rod Thomas, Andy Preece, Darren Edmondson, Chris Billy, John Halpin and Jamie Hoyland also turned out for Carlisle.
