Paul Simpson has questioned comments by Morgan Feeney when he cited “ambition” among his reasons for leaving Carlisle United.

And the Blues boss has also spoken of his disappointment at the circumstances of his captain’s departure.

Defender Feeney signed for United’s League One rivals Shrewsbury Town last week.

It came despite the Cumbrians tabling the 24-year-old what Simpson described as a “very generous” contract offer.

Feeney went on to say of his move to Shrewsbury: “I know how big a club this is and the club’s ambitions certainly matched mine.”

Simpson spoke for the first time about the defender’s decision to leave the club at a media day at Brunton Park on Monday.

Speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria, the United boss said: “The Morgan Feeney one disappointed me a little bit because we've made him a really really good offer, his agent was telling us it was a very generous offer [and was ] pleased with it, and at no point did we get a call from Morgan to say, ‘Look, I've been offered this from Shrewsbury Town and can you match it?’

“We never got that opportunity. I just got a call to say he was being announced at 5pm.

“And I read his comments about ‘they matched his ambitions’…and [I’m] not really sure where our ambitions and his ambitions were different in terms of this.”

Feeney signed a two-year deal at Shrewsbury and will return to Brunton Park with his new club early in the new League One season on September 2.

Simpson said he was also disappointed to lose Feeney because of the way he had conducted himself during his time at United.

“Morgan was somebody who went out of his way and did the community stuff and other stuff with the club,” said Simpson.

“It's disappointing to lose that sort of character. We have to take it on the chin and hopefully we can get somebody who's going to come in and be better than him.

“The fact that we never got the chance [to discuss things further] is disappointing. I think we're a good football club here, we try to do things properly.

“So that was disappointing. But hey, listen, it's life. We get on with it. We've got other things going on now.

News and Star: Ben Barclay signed for United shortly after Feeney's departureBen Barclay signed for United shortly after Feeney's departure (Image: Richard Parkes)

“We’re wanting to try and add to what we've got here. And hopefully in a few months time, nobody will be talking about the boys who didn’t sign.”

Simpson has already brought in one defender since Feeney’s departure, with the permanent capture of former loanee Ben Barclay.

He is continuing efforts to strengthen United’s squad in a range of positions.

Simpson, meanwhile, played down any prospect of Omari Patrick returning to the Blues despite the out-of-contract attacker yet to sign elsewhere.

“Omari spoke to me and said that he's not coming back,” Simpson added.

“I haven't seen he’s gone anywhere else yet. I don't really know.

“Listen, we want players here who want to be here. And if Omari is telling me he doesn't want to come back to it, then fine. We wish him well and respect for that.”