'Perfect' time for reset at Carlisle, says Tierney

Carlisle United's relegation in May ended a 20-year spell in the EFL

Carlisle United's new head of football operations Marc Tierney said this summer is the "perfect time" for a reset at the club.

Tierney's arrival is one of a host of changes at Carlisle following successive relegations.

There is a new head of recruitment in Martin Foyle, while Mark Hughes has agreed to carry on as head coach.

It is part of the American owners' desire to correct mistakes and prepare for the challenge of the National League.

"It's a great time to do a review, a reset and a foundation for where Carlisle can get to, really," Tierney told BBC Radio Cumbria.

"It's a perfect time to have done that, to strive on from here with good foundations."

Tierney, who has moved to Brunton Park from a role as director of football at Altrincham, has a wide-ranging remit at his new club, bringing together all the football aspects from the first-team to the academy and the medical department.

He said there will be a collective view regarding players who are brought in to the club, but one key requisite will be the mental toughness to cope with the expectation that Carlisle should be challenging for an immediate return to the EFL.

Tierney knows what that means. He had a short loan spell at Carlisle early in his playing career during the 2004-05 season under Paul Simpson, as the Blues won promotion from the National League at the first attempt following relegation - the only previous time they dropped out of the top four divisions.

"When we look at players, and someone who wants to come and play for Carlisle, we look at their mental strength and their toughness," Tierney said.

"Do they want to play in front of big crowds like ours? And this season we'll have to go to tough away grounds where we'll have a target on ours backs.

"They'll have to be able to deal with that pressure. It's something we're looking at with possible targets."