Transfer deadline day 2023: Carlisle United manager's plans

The Blues manager’s focus in the final hours of the January window will be on tonight’s clash with Barrow rather than any more deals.

United’s boss is happy with the four players he has brought in this month.

He said the Blues will be ready to react to any late transfer developments but would be happy if the day passed quietly.

“We’ll be approaching the day with the mentality that we’ve got a big game, a really good game to look forward to,” Simpson said.

“So nobody can contact me in the hours of the game, and I’m hoping it’s a nice, quiet day for us.

“In fact, earlier in the day I’ve got to go to a school and do a talk for the reception class on Tuesday morning.

“Then I’ll just get ready for the game and hope the players are right.”

Simpson has this month brought in loan trio Jack Robinson, Alfie McCalmont and John-Kymani Gordon, as well as the permanent capture of Joe Garner.

One of United's four January signings, John-Kymani Gordon, has been an instant hit (Image: Richard Parkes)

These moves offset the January departures of loanees Jack Stretton and Sonny Hilton plus last month’s departure of Duncan Idehen.

Simpson has said he would not rule out another deal if a player came along with the “wow” factor, but those chances appear slim ahead of the window’s closure at 11pm.

“At the moment my head says we won’t be doing anything,” added the Blues boss.

As things stand there is also no sign of United losing any of their key men.

The Blues hope that will remain the case with stars such as Owen Moxon and Jon Mellish as the deadline looms.

Simpson said Carlisle’s strategy for this window had paid off in their ability to get deals done well in advance of deadline day.

“I think that’s because we had a plan,” he said.

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“We’ve been working right through from August to this point now, identifying where we might need strengthening.

“It only comes to light in the last three or four weeks that loan players are going to be going back, but we were ready for whatever came.

“I think we’ve done some really good business, to add to what I think is already a good group.”

On the risk of any late departures, Simpson added: “I’m prepared to say no if anyone comes in with anything outlandish. I don’t even want to think about it.

“We’ll react to any situation but I don’t want that to happen.”