Paul Simpson says no player will be forced out of the door at Carlisle United in January – despite the Blues’ big recruitment drive.

Simpson wants to add about six more players to his squad in a bid to turn around United’s League One fortunes.

But he denied that would mean an exodus from the current ranks.

And he said only if a move suited all parties would he let players depart the squad.

Simpson, speaking at a fans’ forum this week, said his overriding aim was to increase the size of the squad because United’s first-team numbers are “a bit low”.

On departures, he said: “I am looking to move some players on, probably only maybe two or three.

“But that will only happen if somebody comes in for them, and if it’s something that’s right for them.

“We will not force anybody out.

“I’ll be honest, I like them all – they’re all really good blokes. Everybody has opinions of them in terms of the football, but they’re good people.

“They don’t give me any trouble, they come in and are professional in the way they work.

“So I’m not going to force anybody out of the club.”

Simpson said it is inevitable that certain players may consider their own futures when United bring in more competition in the squad.

The Blues boss wants to strengthen in a number of positions, having already agreed a club record deal to sign Harrogate Town striker Luke Armstrong on January 1 and with the new owners, the Piataks, offering major financial backing to improve things on and off the pitch.

“There are times where I have to look at it from [the current squad's] career point of view, so if an opportunity comes up that gives them a longer time under contract at another club, out of respect I’ve got to offer them that opportunity,” Simpson added.

“There will be players who, once we start getting new faces in, will realise that they’re going down the pecking order or even further down the pecking order, and they will want to go and play.

“Because regardless of what anybody thinks, players want to play – they want to play first-team football.

“These lads are really keen to get in our team at the moment, so if it comes to January and all of a sudden they look and think they’re even further behind, the opportunity may come up for them to go somewhere else.”