Carlisle owner gives Williamson full support
Florida businessman Tom Piatak has been in charge of Carlisle since November 2023
- Published
Carlisle United owner Tom Piatak has given a vote of confidence to the club's head coach Mike Williamson.
The club are bottom of League Two, six points from safety, with Williamson garnering just three wins and 15 points from his 18 games in charge.
But he has been given the backing of American businessman Piatak to lead the Cumbrians out of trouble despite coming under fire from disgruntled supporters.
"Mike is the right person in the board's mind and the ownership's mind to get us out of this fight," he said.
"He knows the position we're in, he knows how to get us out of it and changing the head coach now will not improve our chances of getting out of this fight."
Piatak was speaking at a fans' forum at Brunton Park where he described the club's plight at the bottom of the league as "completely unacceptable".
Carlisle finished bottom of League One last season after just one season in the third tier and their return to the level below has been a disaster, with the team not higher than 22nd at any point since early September.
"Where we're at right now is completely unacceptable," said Piatak. "I'm frustrated, angry, disappointed.
"If you had asked me at the beginning of the season would I expect to be sitting here on 7 January, 24th in the table, absolutely not.
"So I'm angry and it hurts. It absolutely hurts."
Five already in; maybe five more
To try to avoid relegation, Carlisle have already brought in five new players in the January transfer window - Will Patching, Elliot Embleton, Callum Whelan, Cedwyn Scott and Sean Fusire.
For the club's sporting director Rob Clarkson, a man instrumental in those deals, sticking with Williamson was fundamental for getting them done.
He recognises Carlisle's predicament but is promising even more new arrivals this month to back Williamson.
"If we had changed head coach right before the January window, the players that we were talking to and had lined up, that doesn't happen," said Clarkson.
"They all told me they wanted to come and play for Mike and play in that style.
"So a change would have really hindered us. We've brought in five already and we will bring in more, certainly three to five more."