Paul Simpson called for an “overhaul” of Carlisle United on and off the pitch to get the Blues back on a positive footing.

The manager saw his side beaten by promotion-chasing Exeter City at Brunton Park on Saturday.

And Simpson said it will take serious work on various levels for United to be able to emulate the high-flying Grecians.

“We’ve shown in the little run we’ve had that we can compete and get results, whether that’s through good stuff or grinding it out,” he said.

“But it’s going to take overhaul not just of the team but an overhaul of the club to get it into a position where we can start believing that we have potential to be promotion candidates.”

They are the latest comments from Simpson which underline the long-term challenges still facing United.

While they are still in with a strong chance of securing League Two safety soon – they are ten points clear of the drop zone with five games left – the prospects of a major turnaround at the club remain unclear.

Simpson has said there needs to be clarity on top-level matters at Brunton Park before he could consider committing his future to United.

The 55-year-old said the manner of Saturday’s defeat served to highlight the distance still to travel.

“We talked about the game being a marker today, like it was against Northampton and others we’ve played up at the top of the table,” Simpson added.

“It’s still a marker but it shows the gulf, the big difference.

“It could have been a really big point. I’m not sitting here saying I believe we deserved a point, because we probably didn’t, but it could have been a really big point for us and took us one point closer to where we want to be.

“But there is a huge difference, and that’s the total reality of it.

“I don’t really know how long it will take as a football club for us to be able to get to that level but that’s what we have to strive to do.

“As a football club there has to be a desire to change it, to make sure we’re going to go and compete at the top end of the table.”

United could seal their survival over Easter weekend – but a bad run of results would leave them still in the struggle going into the closing stages of the campaign.

Simpson stressed the short-term remained vital before Carlisle could consider looking further ahead.

“Let’s make sure we’re not talking about relegation, that’s the start point,” he said.

“We haven’t earned the right yet. So let’s deal with this first horrible bit then start even contemplating how long it’s gonna take to get at the other end of the table.”

READ MORE: "We didn't do our jobs" - Paul Simpson's reaction to Carlisle United's defeat to Exeter City