[themaclad]

Carlisle United have appointed Wales legend Mark Hughes as their new head coach.

Hughes has signed a rolling contract to replace Mike Williamson who was sacked on Monday with the club bottom of League Two.

The 61-year-old, who will have Glyn Hodges alongside him as assistant coach, has been out of work since being sacked by Bradford City in October 2023.

Hughes has managed six clubs in the Premier League as well as the Wales national team after a glittering playing career.

He spent 18 months at Bradford and in his only full season in charge the Bantams finished sixth before they were beaten in the League Two play-offs by Carlisle.

That was his only managerial job outside the top-flight, having previously been in charge of a total of 466 Premier League games at Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Fulham, QPR, Stoke City and Southampton.

Before that, he had managed Wales for five years, leading them to a play-off for Euro 2004, but he was not able to guide them to a major tournament.

Hughes won 11 major honours during a playing career as a centre forward with Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Southampton, Everton and Blackburn Rovers. He also won 72 caps for Wales.

'Mark will instantly command respect'
But his new job is to try to drag Carlisle away from relegation to the National League.

They are 24th in League Two, five points from safety, and he is their third boss of the season after the departures of Williamson and Paul Simpson, who left in August.

The Cumbrians have won only twice at Brunton Park all season, and brought Williamson's reign to an end after a humiliating 5-1 defeat at home by Swindon Town on Saturday.

Williamson's exit came despite bringing in 11 new players in the transfer window, backed by the club's American owners, the Piatak family.

But sporting director Rob Clarkson has acted quickly to bring Hughes in for the final 18 games of the season, starting at Grimsby Town on Saturday.

"Mark's experience and stature in the game speaks for itself," Clarkson told the club's website, external.

"He is someone who will instantly command respect from all staff and players and I am really excited to work with him.

"The players we have here will suit the way he wants to play and I'm sure our fans will really get behind him and the team in our remaining 18 games."

[themaclad]

Carlisle United manager Mark Hughes will remain with the club following their relegation from League Two to the National League.

Hughes took over at Brunton Park in February after Mike Williamson was sacked, with Carlisle five points from safety and 18 games remaining.

The former Wales, Manchester City and Fulham boss could not keep the club in the league, however, and they were finally relegated after defeat at Cheltenham Town in their penultimate game of the season.

"Since joining back in February, the support I've received from the fans has been exceptional - thank you," Hughes told the club website, external.

"I hope to see more of the same next season as we aim for an immediate return to the EFL."

Reverse Wrexham: Carlisle's US dream goes sour
A split three way picture with from left, Paul Simpson, Mike Williamson and Mark Hughes
"Mark brought the squad together during the closing stretch of the season and gave us a fighting chance," chairman Tom Piatak added.

"His leadership, composure, and connection with the players was clear, and we're confident in his ability to lead us forward."

Despite their relegation, Hughes reinvigorated his side for the end-of-season run-in as they lost just once at home under his tenure and won three consecutive games for the first time in more than two years.

A run of 10 points from four games in April came too late to pull them out of trouble, however, with Hughes wanting to remain in post despite the drop into non-league football.

News of Hughes' continuing in the job is the latest in a busy few weeks at the club since relegation was confirmed.

Previous sporting director Rob Clarkson departed less than 48 hours after Carlisle's fate was sealed.

Marc Tierney has been brought in from Altrincham as the Blues' new head of football operations, while Greg Abbott, a former manager at Brunton Park, has now left the club after three years as head of recruitment as the club seek to prepare for their first spell in the National League since 2005.

He may not have been able to keep Carlisle United up – and there are some in the fanbase who feel he had enough time to do so – however, the retention of Mark Hughes has been roundly welcomed in the city.

Carlisle were a mess on the pitch when he took over in February. Hughes was quick to recognise an unfit, top-heavy squad and was ruthless where needed.

Performances and, to an extent, results did improve towards the back end of the campaign while Hughes was also able to forge a connection with a fractious and disconnected fanbase.

While those are clear positives to his appointment, there are negatives given a lack of experience managing at National League level and no promotion to his name.

Carlisle's significant financial backing under their American owners, the Piatak family, will mean there is an expectancy for United to bounce back at the first attempt.

Whether Hughes can deliver that remains to be seen.