Paul Simpson has reaffirmed his commitment to Carlisle United – by saying he wants to be here for more than three years.

Simpson is approaching his first year of a three-year deal he signed last spring.

In that time the Cumbrian has turned the Blues from relegation candidates into promotion contenders.

And, speaking ahead of this weekend’s big clash with League Two leaders Leyton Orient, Simpson underlined his wish to be part of things for the long run at Brunton Park.

“I signed a contract to come here for a minimum of three years,” said Simpson at his latest press conference.

“Myself and [wife] Jacqui moved up here, and I think this our 27th move in 30-odd years of being married. I don’t think Jacqui would be too chuffed if I was to suggest that we’re going to move again.

“I want to stay here, I want to do at least three years, and I want the club to want me to stay. After that, I would love us to be in a position where they want me to stay longer as well.”

Simpson’s second spell as United manager sees the Blues fourth in the table with eight games to go.

Although they dropped out of the automatic promotion places last weekend, they still have a strong chance of going up if they can return to form.

Simpson says that, while he remains ambitious as a manager, he is not “chasing” the possibility of other jobs which continued success at Brunton Park could bring.

News and Star: Simpson's hugely successful first spell with the Blues ran from 2003-6 before he left for PrestonSimpson's hugely successful first spell with the Blues ran from 2003-6 before he left for Preston (Image: Stuart Walker)

“People criticised me last time for leaving to join Preston [in 2006], but I was a young manager and I was trying to find my way in the game,” he said.

“I was striving to be the best manager I could be, and thinking that to be that I had to go to the Championship and that would give me a platform to go onto Premier League level.

“I still want to be the best manager I can be, but I think I’ve realised that as an English coach you’ve got very little chance of actually getting a job in the Championship or the Premier League.

“That’s not me in any way criticising foreign coaches, there are some brilliant foreign coaches.

“I’m really enjoying my life here. I’ve had some fantastic experiences in my managerial career, be that coaching in Portugal, working in the Championship and the Premier League, working at some great football clubs or gaining experience working with the FA, culminating in having a World Cup win – I’m just not chasing all of that now.

“I’m really happy with my lot, and if I can stay here for a long time I’ll be happy and I’m quite sure Jacqui will be as well.”

Simpson admitted that management can be a volatile profession, and said he still does not write beyond a month in his diary – and even then, only in pencil.

He stressed, though, that he wants to keep building the Blues for as long as he is at the club.

“My aim was to come back to Carlisle United and to try to make the club bigger and better,” he said.

“I’m still striving to do that, but I still think we’re a long way from where I want it to be.

“The football side of it is going really well this year, the players have been magnificent, and what that does is make the hospitality, the commercial, the shop sales, the media coverage…everything that goes hand in hand with a successful football team increases.

“I want to carry on trying to be successful so that we can make the club even better than where it is today.”