Paul Simpson says he has a “clear idea” of the style of play he is recruiting for this summer.

And high on the list is extra pace and creativity which was sorely lacking in the Carlisle United side last season.

Simpson wants to make a significant number of signings to strengthen the Blues for their return to League One.

And he says his focus is clear on the calibre of players being targeted.

“I've got a clear idea of what I want and we've got to do everything we possibly can to get that type of player in,” he said.

“We need to strengthen, particularly in the creative areas – we need to strengthen with our pace, we need some physicality in terms of our defenders, we need creativity in the wing-back areas, and those are all areas that we're looking to strengthen.”

Simpson opted to release one of his more creative players last season in midfielder and top scorer Jordan Gibson.

He was one of eight players not offered a new deal, following a three-year spell with the Blues.

News and Star: Jordan Gibson was released by United last weekJordan Gibson was released by United last week (Image: Richard Parkes)

Gibson faded from Simpson’s starting line-up in the closing months of 2023/24 despite an impressive autumn spell.

United’s boss, though, insisted that he had backed the 26-year-old on plenty of occasions.

“If you look through Jordan Gibson's career, I'm the one who's played him more games than anybody else,” said Simpson.

“And when he's on his game – yes, he was good.

“I made a decision because of what's happened probably over two seasons.

“I'll be really honest with you, last season when we took out his option, I was advised by the other staff that we should let him go, but I felt as though I wanted to work with him, I wanted to give him a chance.

“Early on in the season he showed us what he's about, but ultimately we just felt it was time for Jordan Gibson to move on and to try and progress his career somewhere else.”

The departures of players such as Gibson and Paul Huntington have caused some debate among fans.

But Simpson said he is clear in his thinking.

“I was criticised last season for not giving Kristian Dennis a two-year contract, for not keeping Omari Patrick. I was criticised when we let Mark Howard go,” he said.

“I’ve said this before – the one thing I've learnt is I ain't going to please everybody, so I just have to do what I think are the right things.

“I genuinely wish [all the released players] the best of luck and I hope they find a place where they can really show what they're all about.”