Carlisle United manager Paul Simpson says the Blues are disappointed with the verdict that sees JK Gordon banned – but they will take the decision on the chin.

Simpson, meanwhile, declined to comment in any detail on the further fallout from last weekend’s victory at Barrow, including recent comments from Bluebirds boss Pete Wild.

That 1-0 win saw Gordon, five days later, suspended for three games after he was found guilty of violent conduct by an independent panel.

It followed a 27th-minute incident involving Gordon and Barrow defender Sam McClelland which was not punished by referee James Bell at the time.

Simpson said: “We’re disappointed with the verdict. I looked at it during the game and didn’t for one minute think it was violent conduct.

“I thought it was maybe a bit careless, maybe even stretching to reckless which is a yellow card offence by the letter of the law.

“We’ve looked at the video, we’ve paused the video, at the point where contact was made, it looks from the video evidence that the contact was made on the lad’s shoulder.

“For that reason we appealed it, it went to an independent panel, two out of the three voted that they thought it was violent conduct, the other thought it was accidental and careless and minimal contact.

“Unfortunately we lost it, I fully respect that panel for taking the time to do it and we just have to move on – we lost the case and there’s nothing more we can do about it.

“JK was in good form, but unfortunately that’s the rules, you just have to get on with it and it now opens an opportunity for somebody else.”

Footage of the incident, which sees Gordon throw an arm behind him at McClelland after a tussle for the ball, also appears to show ref Bell with a good view of the incident.

The Football Association statement on Thursday, though, said the incident was “not seen by match officials” hence the review of the moment using video evidence.

News and Star: Paul SimpsonPaul Simpson (Image: Richard Parkes)

Simpson added: “I think the biggest concern for me out of it was that the referee didn’t see it, because he was in an absolutely brilliant position.

“[But] we have to totally respect the panel that made that decision. I respect the decision, with the processes where we can appeal, we didn’t win so we move on – JK isn’t available for three games and we have to take that on the chin.”

Gordon will miss tomorrow’s clash with Salford City, the final game of the campaign at Sutton United on Monday, May 8 and a play-off semi-final first leg should the Blues be involved.

Simpson, meanwhile, said he did not want to add fuel to the fire of post-match comments following Carlisle’s 1-0 win at Holker Street.

Barrow boss Wild, whilst denying he had tried to get Gordon suspended, used interviews on Thursday to suggest some of Simpson’s remarks after the game had not been “factual”.

One comment from the United manager last Saturday was the claim that he’d heard the Barrow chairman had “celebrated” in the directors’ box at Grimsby Town when hearing Carlisle had gone behind at Stockport County on the same night.

Sources at Barrow have said their chairman, Paul Hornby, was not in fact at that game.

Asked if he had a fresh view on the matter in light of that information, Simpson said: “No, I haven’t given it a second’s thought.

“I don’t want to get into any argument, any cross of words.

“I’ve got my feelings on what happened. I’ve been told about what happened, firstly at the Grimsby game – if it wasn’t the chairman it was somebody else in a senior position there...

“I’ve got absolutely no problem with Barrow Football Club. I’ve got a massive amount of respect for what they’ve achieved over the last couple of seasons.

“Same for Pete Wild – he has his way, I’ve got my way. It comes down to respecting the decision that’s been made [over Gordon] and we move on.

“I’ve got a brilliant game to look forward to against Salford this weekend.”