Paul Simpson says a lesson he learned during his time at Manchester City applies to his Carlisle United players now.

The Blues boss was a teenage star at the current Premier League champions.

And Simmo says he was taught the value of fighting every day for your career during his 1980s days at Maine Road.

United’s manager says that principle must apply across the closing games of this season as his current team looked to seal their League Two survival.

Carlisle could secure their EFL status over Easter weekend but Simpson wants high standards throughout their remaining five games – both for the club’s and the players’ sake.

“We have to keep going, we’ve got to do that,” Simpson said.

“Even if we’re safe we’ve still got to do that.

“People pay good money to come and watch and that’s why we have to make sure we keep doing it right.

“I’ve said it before – everybody is playing for their future.

“In football, as a manager if you’ve got a two-year deal and you have two years left, you don’t get those two years. You get a termination period and you get the sack if results aren’t right.

“As a player you have a contract and you have a duty to go and earn your next one and to keep moving on.

“It’s something that was drummed into me when I was a player at Manchester City, that you’re always fighting for your place in the team and your next contract and your career.

“We are all really lucky to be in this profession.”

News and Star: United head to Walsall on Friday hoping to secure survival - having topped the table on their last visit to the Banks's Stadium (photo: Barbara Abbott)United head to Walsall on Friday hoping to secure survival - having topped the table on their last visit to the Banks's Stadium (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Simpson’s side are preparing for their Good Friday trip to Walsall – the first occasion when they could achieve mathematical safety.

Victory at the Banks’s Stadium, coupled with an Oldham Athletic defeat to Northampton Town, would assure the Blues of survival.

United will take on Michael Flynn’s side looking to bounce back from a disappointing display in last Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to Exeter City.

It left the Cumbrians ten points above the drop zone with five games to go.

Simpson has stressed that discussions about players’ contracts do not need to be rushed at a time United are still aiming to complete the survival job.

Ahead of this weekend’s double-header – they also take on Mansfield Town at Brunton Park on Easter Monday – Simpson added: “[Exeter] was disappointing, but let’s not forget about the run we had and why we had it.

“We have to stay together and get back to it.

“As the manager, along with my staff, we have to look at it and focus on where we can be better.”

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