Gavin Skelton says his sole focus is on Carlisle United's next game and not whether he could be a candidate for the manager's job.

The Cumbrian will take caretaker charge of the Blues for tomorrow's home clash with Tranmere following the sacking of Chris Beech.

Assistant boss Skelton said he is planning "a few tweaks" for the Brunton Park fixture.

But on whether he wants the top job long-term, he said: "That’s not my domain – for me it’s about Tranmere and being the best caretaker, assistant or coach I can be, whatever it is I’m asked to do.

"It’s about the football club and about getting three points in the next game we play."

Skelton admitted it had been a "difficult" situation seeing Beech depart because of his good relationship with the former head coach.

Asked whether he and caretaker No2 Eric Kinder would change anything in the short term with the third-bottom Blues, he said: "Not loads, but no matter how closely you work with somebody, as I did with Chris, you still have your own little spin on things. There’ll be a few tweaks."

On the possible timescale of his caretaker tenure, Skelton added: "All that was said is that I’ll be taking training on Monday and we’ll see it through to the game.

"That is literally where it’s at and, after that, what will be will be.

“I got a phone call on Sunday to see if I was happy to take training on Monday, and going forward into the game. Obviously I said yes because as a Cumbrian I want the club to do well and I want to help if I can. That’s why all of our focus is on this next game.”

Skelton confirmed he was in charge of the caretaker line-up and would be picking the team, with Kinder assisting and under-18 boss Mark Birch also helping.

On youth coach Kinder, Skelton said: “He’s experienced, he’s a new voice because he’s been detached from the first team environment with the work he does with the youth team, and I’m sure he’ll bring a calming influence for some of the players.”

Skelton said the players had responded well in training this week.

“They’ve been really bright,” he said. “They’re in good spirits and they’re looking forward to the game.

“They see it as a good challenge, particularly with where Tranmere are in the league, and that makes it a great game for us to go into.

“We’re putting ourselves up against a team full of confidence and with good pedigree, but that will hopefully bring the best out of us.

“We’re not hiding away from the fact of where we are and we want to put it right. We desperately want to get to Saturday, start the game on the front foot and take it to Tranmere.”

Skelton, speaking about Beech’s exit, said he had spoken to the former head coach since his sacking, and said: “It’s always difficult. I had a good relationship with Chris, it really grew over his time here.

“He’s an experienced coach and personally I’ve learned things off him.

“Players are all different in how they handle it. The experienced ones have been through it before but it was the first time for some of the younger ones, and it is more difficult for them.

“Footballers are footballers and they are resilient, and they do know that they have to get on with it. Monday was quiet, but they trained really well on Tuesday, as they generally do.”

He added that Beech deserved to be remembered by fans “for the way he developed players and how he brought certain new things into the club. I really appreciate the respect he had for me and I know he’ll go on to be very successful.”

Skelton believes United’s squad is good enough to deliver better results.

He said: “Yes, we have the tools. It’s a good squad that should be doing better and the frustration is around because we aren’t winning games. That’s the same for any club at every level.

“We know we have players here who can get results, but talk is cheap. It’s about making it happen as far as I’m concerned.

“The squad is good enough, we’ve seen glimpses of it, but we haven’t seen enough of it. We have to work hard at that and the players know they have a responsibility to step up and not to hide behind anything.

“We’re in a difficult position but we have enough ability and character in the squad to be doing much better than we are. They’re just words, anybody can say that, so it comes down to performing when it matters.”

Some fans have called for a clean sweep in the top managerial and coaching positions in light of United’s poor form.

Asked if this left him needing to win some supporters over, Skelton said: “I think you always have to win people over, and some won’t like you whatever happens. I think even when you’re doing well, 70 per cent of people like you and the rest don’t. If it isn’t going well it goes the other way.”