Paul Simpson says he’s “99.9 per cent” sure of the contract decisions he is poised to make at Carlisle United.

The Blues manager will meet every player next Monday after the final game of the campaign.

And Simpson says he is ready to make some “difficult” decisions as he prepares to start reshaping the squad.

“I would probably say I’m 99.9 per cent there with which way I’m going to go with it,” the United boss said.

“We’re working really hard to try and bring a head of recruitment in, so we can hit the ground running and make this football club better.

“I want to make everything better about it. I want to make the environment off the pitch better, and I want the group on the pitch to be stronger.

“In this league, if we can get every player to try to increase their level of professionalism and performance by another four or five per cent, which isn’t a lot, and you add that up in a group of 20, you’ve got a big improvement.

“That’s what we’ve got to strive to do and that’s what the job is for me and my staff to get from our players, whoever they happen to be.

“We’ll make sure we keep pushing them to try to make things better.”

A number of the current squad will be out of contract after Saturday’s last game at Bradford City.

Simpson said he expects each player to give their maximum until the final whistle in game 46.

But he said it is inevitable that some players will be disappointed when he reveals his decisions next week.

“They have to be out there showing what they can do and the truth is that isn’t for me, they’re doing it for themselves,” he added.

“It’s about them and their careers.

“I always say to them if they don’t work hard, it isn’t going to affect my life. I’m old and grey now. I’m 55, so not ancient, so they’re the ones that have got to want to go and do it and forge a career.

“I hope they continue to do that, and with that in mind we need to get ready for Bradford.

“There’s going to be some disappointed players when we have the meetings, but that’s the nature of football.

“As I always say, the league table doesn’t tell lies. If we want to progress as a club there will have to be some difficult conversations and some harsh decisions made.”

Simpson, whose side beat Stevenage 2-1 in their final home game on Saturday, said the previous display at Harrogate remained fresh in the mind as he called for good standards to the very end.

“The thing I would say regardless is whether you’re under contract, or I’m 99 per cent sure of what’s gonna happen, you’re a professional footballer, you’ve still got to go and do it right,” he said.

“I wasn’t happy with what happened at Harrogate. I think there was a bit of downing tools on that particular day. I don’t like that.

“I don’t care whether you’re under contract or not, there’s no place for downing tools as a professional footballer.

“I don’t believe there’s any place for it whatever your profession is. You have to have pride in your performance.

“Saturday was really good, they showed pride in their performance and they have to make sure they have pride in their performance next week, because I’m led to believe we’ve got an unbelievable backing going to Bradford.”

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