Paul Simpson says he will continue his efforts to strengthen Carlisle United’s squad despite some knock-backs from free agents.

The Blues boss says he has been pursuing some out-of-contract players in a bid to bolster his side.

He has faced frustration with those attempts but Simpson said he will keep trying to improve things at Brunton Park – with the January transfer window also a key focus.

Simpson highlighted the market as a crucial area when asked what gives him faith that Carlisle can turn their fortunes around.

“I lean on the fact that I believe that I’ve got the ability to be able to turn it around – and I lean on the fact that we have an opportunity, hopefully when the takeover comes, to actually go and strengthen our squad,” he said.

“The current board pushed themselves to the limit to get what we were able to get this summer. I can only thank them for that.

“We have an opportunity to make it better. I’ve said [we will be] fishing in a different financial pond [after the takeover], but we still have the challenge of whether the players will come to us.

“Even at the moment when I’ve been trying to get players in over the last couple of weeks – players who are freedom of contract players, which is a gamble in itself because they’ve not been playing for a team and are not match fit – we still can’t get them to come in.

News and Star: United's shortcomings were further exposed in the 3-1 defeat to Leyton OrientUnited's shortcomings were further exposed in the 3-1 defeat to Leyton Orient (Image: Barbara Abbott)

“We’ve still got the huge challenge to get them to come in. The league position doesn’t encourage people to want to come and get involved in it.

“But I’m going to keep fighting to do everything I can. I want the football club to be better and I want our results to be better.”

Simpson said United’s need for new players was clear in their 3-1 FA Cup defeat at Leyton Orient, on top of their struggles in the third tier after promotion.

The Blues boss has previously stated he believes his current players are capable of better.

Asked if recent events had led him to question that confidence, he said: “Yeah, you have to question it. You do.

“This is the group we’ve got. I think it’s blatantly obvious to everybody that this group needs strengthening. Absolutely blatantly obvious.

“We were fishing in a pond of a certain financial bracket in the summer, and we hope that we’ll be fishing in a different pond, because this has to improve.

“One of the things – and it’s come from the players in [the changing room] – is that if we don’t do something about it, our careers are going to be gone. And they will.

“That’s what happens. I recently got a list of 15 Championship players who have not got a club at the moment, and there are some good players on it.

“But their careers have stood still and maybe even gone, because they could be six to 12 months without playing football and where do you go from there?

“If you don’t realise – and this is me as well, as a manager – if we don’t do something about it quickly, the opportunity will go.”