Paul Simpson: Carlisle United manager criticises abusive fans

Paul Simpson was unhappy at the abuse he received and the reaction to his substitution of Luke Plange (left) in the defeat at Blackpool

Carlisle boss Paul Simpson has criticised supporters who abused him at the end of the 3-0 defeat at Blackpool.

The Cumbrians have won just three times this season and lie three points from safety in League One.

Simpson took the club from the League Two relegation zone to a play-off final win at Wembley in 18 months and said he did not deserve the treatment he got as he went to applaud the away following.

"I don't need that in my life," he told BBC Radio Cumbria.

Carlisle were last month taken over by US businessman Thomas Piatak who has pledged to develop the club on and off the pitch, and Simpson is expecting at least two new players to join their relegation struggle in the January transfer window.

The supporters reacted badly to their fourth defeat in five games and Simpson said he "did not deserve to go over in front of our supporters" and be abused with offensive words and gestures.

The former Derby County and Manchester City player was also unhappy that on-loan Crystal Palace striker Luke Plange was subjected to ironic cheers when substituted in the second half.

Said Simpson: "I don't expect our supporters, who have been absolutely magnificent, to cheer and applaud when we sub a 21-year-old striker on loan from a Premier League club.

"That's not how we support Carlisle United. I think they've got a very short memory because when I came back into this football club it was on its knees.

"They all wanted to turn up and support us when the good times were going, when we had runs of wins and got into play-off semi-finals and finals, and win at Wembley and are suddenly in League One.

"They all want to cheer for that and enjoy that and now we're having a sticky patch suddenly people want to make gestures like that.

"I'll be honest with you, I don't need that in my life, I don't need that at all, so I'm not happy about that.

"It wasn't a few, it was a lot of people. We are struggling, let's be honest, but [Saturday] we did not lose because of a lack of effort and I don't care what anybody on that far side [of the ground] thinks about that.

"I don't even think the tactics were wrong, it was individual mistakes and we had opportunities and half-opportunities and if we had been clinical in both boxes that may not have happened.

"They're very close to being a Championship side and unfortunately we're just above being a League Two side, that's the truth of it and we have to fight and scrap and get everything we possibly can between now and January."

Simpson also warned his players that their places are under threat with the changes planned under the new ownership.

He said: "If it frightens the players now that they might lose their place because of the players coming in then I'm sorry but they're going to have to grow up and dig deep because whoever is in charge of this football club come January, there will be changes and they have to be brave enough to deal with it."

Asked if he might walk away from the club if the abuse continues, Simpson refused to answer.