Williamson's message to Carlisle United's young players

The Blues’ teenage prospects will have a clear pathway to first-team involvement if they prove themselves, according to the head coach.

So says academy manager Steven Rudd, who says he has been impressed with Williamson’s approach since the new boss took charge at Brunton Park last week.

Rudd says Williamson has made it clear that he will give United’s youth set-up close attention as he tries to build the Blues for the long term.

“The new manager and his staff have been excellent since last Thursday,” Rudd said.

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“They've involved [the youth team] lads in training, and Freddie O’Donoghue got on [at Swindon Town] on Saturday.

“He [Williamson] has openly said that if they earn the right and are good enough, he wants to provide pathways for the lads.

Teenager Freddie O'Donoghue was given a substitute outing in Williamson's first game in charge at Swindon (Image: Richard Parkes)

“So we can't praise them enough in the few days they've been in, and hopefully we now see the lads coming through.

“It’s over to us and the lads. So, a) earn the right, b) be good enough, and then the pathway will be there for you.”

Williamson and his first-team coaches have also leaned on the former interim management team of Rudd, Mark Birch and Jamie Devitt in their early days at the club.

Rudd accompanied the new first-team coaching set-up to Swindon for Williamson’s first game in charge.

Williamson said the academy manager’s involvement helped offer “continuity”.

And Rudd said the new boss has already made it clear that he sees the task ahead – and any achievements that come – as collective efforts.

“We're here to help. So if they need help with anything, at any time, we're more than happy to help,” said Rudd.

“It's been great. They've worked with us, we've worked with them. They're great people, they're really open, honest.

“We're here to support them and be successful.

“It was good on Monday – the first thing he [Williamson] said is, ‘We won on Saturday as a club, as a staff, as people. It's not ‘I’’.

“We are working together, which is fantastic. They’ve been excellent, I can't praise them enough. We're here to support them, help them in any way we can.”