Former Carlisle United defender Morgan Feeney reacted angrily to Paul Simpson at the end of the Blues’ victory over Shrewsbury Town.

Shrews defender Feeney, who left Carlisle this summer, appeared to reject Simpson’s offer of a post-match handshake.

Other players stepped in as the ex-United captain expressed his annoyance at his former manager.

It came after Carlisle’s 2-0 win during which Feeney was regularly booed by home fans, and was the subject of derisive songs.

Simpson was asked about the incident in his post-match interviews.

Speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria, the Blues boss said: “I went to shake his [Feeney’s] hand and he blamed me for [him] getting booed today, and getting songs against him.

“I don’t really understand that. He said I told lies in the media…well, I’m sorry but I haven’t told any lies, I told the truth.

News and Star: Jack Armer tries to restrain Feeney in the post-match scenesJack Armer tries to restrain Feeney in the post-match scenes (Image: Barbara Abbott)

“I would have loved to have kept Morgan Feeney. Even in our team meeting, I said to our players we all know what a good, honest centre back Morgan is.

“My only disappointment which I said [earlier in the summer] was that I wasn’t given an opportunity to match what Shrewsbury gave him. And that’s all I can say.

“I didn’t tell any lies. Anybody who knows me tells me I try not to tell lies, I’m not clever enough to tell lies. I don’t know where his disappointment came with that.”

Feeney, who captained United for most of their 2022/23 League Two promotion season before turning down a new deal, was jeered from an early stage in the game and throughout the contest as Carlisle claimed their first victory of the season against his new club.

News and Star: Feeney was booed throughout the game by Blues fansFeeney was booed throughout the game by Blues fans (Image: Ben Holmes)

Simpson added: “Really, I don’t really know what he expected our fans to do. I don’t know if he expected them to roll out the red carpet to a player who chooses to leave.

“He was my leader, he was my captain. I’ve got a massive amount of respect for him. I don’t know where it came from.

“But listen, he’s quite an emotional lad, Morgan – he was emotional in training  and in games, maybe it was that.

“I didn’t want that to happen to Morgan today, that he was getting that [sort of reception], but I certainly didn’t cause it and I don’t know why he thinks that I did.”