Press Release Article

Monday 14th May 2001: Trust Chairman blasts back over criticism of Atkins

CARLISLE United Supporters' Trust chairman Alan Steel has sprung to the defence of manager Ian Atkins after comments by club advisor David Low about Atkins's record and conduct. The future of the popular United boss would seem to have been thrown into the melting pot by Low's criticisms.

Low said Atkins's future at Brunton Park was being considered and would be resolved in the near future. However Steel said: "Given the performance of Ian Atkins we believe he should be given the opportunity to manage the side with adequate resources and full support from the directors. Any other strategy is full of risk. Atkins must be given his opportunity- it is hard-headed business sense."

Fans' favourite Atkins, who received a staggering ovation from 1,100 supporters at last Saturday's Independent Trust launch at the Sands Centre in Carlisle, is currently on holiday. Alan Steel said: "The fans aren't daft. They understand perfectly what Atkins has had to contend with. Under the circumstance his achievement and that of the players is little short of miraculous."

The CCUIST chairman said at the start of the season Atkins had just half a dozen players to choose from and apparently worked for several weeks without a salary. If results in the second half of the campaign had been duplicated for the first half, United would have been in the play-offs and the manager achieved this with virtually no money to spend when support from the ownership and directors of the club was at best ambivalent.

"The fact that one of the key players was sold for a pittance without his knowledge during the crucial end of season series of games is clear demonstration of how much the ownership and directors have the best interests of the club at heart--or otherwise," said Steel.

He said club representatives had now chosen to criticise Atkins's performance, presumably as a precursor to the non-renewal of his contract or perhaps even to provide a clean sheet for any of the several new potential owners reported to be maneouvring for ownership of United.

Mr Steel said the Supporters' Trust was working towards representation on the board and would work alongside any new owners of United on behalf of the fans in a hard-headed and businesslike way to ensure future success. Already CCUIST has generated more support in its efforts to achieve those goals than any of the dozens of similar organisations throughout the country who are beginning to provide directors for the boards of Football League clubs.

Low on Atkins:
These are some of the comments attributed by the Cumberland News on Friday to David Low.

"The future of the manager is being considered. His behaviour will be taken into account. So, too, will his performance on and off the pitch."

"Given the resources he was given, finishing third from bottom is no more than the club expected."

"I am particularly disappointed with the manager's attitude over the Prokas issue. Prokas made it clear he had no desire or interest in staying at Carlisle."