Chris Beech says he will ask Carlisle United to perform with “honesty, integrity and hard work” as he begins life as the Blues’ new head coach.

Beech was unveiled by the struggling Cumbrians on an 18-month deal after getting the nod ahead of some more high-profile candidates.

The 45-year-old former Rochdale No2 said he will give the United players every chance to impress him.

But he said he will not be afraid to make changes to the squad in January if needs be.

Beech said: “I’ve got to assess the squad. We’ve got a tough period coming up which will take us into January. It’s important that the players have the opportunity to express themselves.

“If they want to follow, then great. If they don’t then we’ll have to make the choices and changes at the appropriate times.

“I do want to make sure that we’re representing what I do as a person, which is honesty, integrity and hard work.

“You want your team to be an extension of your personality, and the players all have that in them.”

Beech has been appointed “head coach” rather than manager but United said he will still be in charge of identifying transfer targets.

The new boss said he is happy to work with director of football David Holdsworth, who is in charge of overseeing deals.

Steven Pressley’s successor is charged with leading United out of trouble in League Two and also progressing in the FA Cup, with his first match in charge Saturday’s second round tie at Forest Green.

He said he will be committed to the club’s youth system and hopes to emulate his work at Rochdale, where he helped develop a number of home-grown players.

Beech also said he wants to help United “reconnect” with fans with the club struggling in fourth bottom position in League Two.

He said: “I’ve been fortunate enough to see the team play on several occasions and I’ve been to the last couple of matches. I think the supporters have been really supportive of the players.

“I was even at the game where they managed to win 1-0 and the lads got booed off. They scored a good goal early doors against Oldham, but the fans were disgruntled.

“I want them to really feel that it’s match day. That feeling you get as a supporter when you come to the ground then go home enthused and talking about things that have happened because you’ve got three points.

“The currency of football for first team players and management will never change - it’s about three points. I want to bag those points week-in and week-out but we have to show the traits that represent that, and that means getting a consistent level of performance. I think the supporters will enjoy that.”

Beech spoke about how he wants his side to perform, saying: “I want us to be the best team with the football and we’ll get that by moving it quickly. I want us to penetrate and I want to see us getting numbers forward with players getting into the box. I want the turnovers so we’ll need to be pressing high and I want to look at consistently getting clean sheets and scoring goals.

“There’s a lot of work to be done but I’ve seen some good things in the team and the squad and I want to utilise that.”

He said that, with January in mind, he would be “open to anything” in terms of improving the squad.

On the recruitment process at Brunton Park, Beech added: “I don’t think it’ll change too much from what’s happened in the past.

“I’ve spoken at length with David and the board. I’ll be implementing what I think is good, what we need to look at possibly improving and what we might need to help to make it happen.

“I know sometimes that can be difficult if work has been done to a set budget, but by no means is that an excuse to underperform, and it also doesn’t mean you can’t still work to make things better.

“We all go to work with a plan, every single one of us in whatever line of work we do, but it’s how you adapt within that plan that determines how successful you’ll be.”