Preston get Simpson

He took over as manager during the season when Carlisle finally lost their league status after a few narrow escapes but then brought them back at the first time of asking and a year later has now seen them reach League One, winning the League Two championship by three points from Northampton.

It was this record that persuaded Preston to target him and this morning Simpson said yes to a three year deal at Deepdale and signed the contract this afternoon. It is a decision that certainly caught out Carlisle chairman Fred Story who said: “I was surprised with the news. I had hoped he would stay, but we have to respect his decision.

“He has not been disloyal and to say that would be immature and disrespectful to Paul Smipson. He has given a loyal service to Carlisle United and I can't speak highly enough of him. I honestly believe he will go all the way as a manager.”

Simpson will be unveiled at a press conference on Monday morning and is expected to take both assistant boss Dennis Booth and chief scout Russ Richardson with him.

We're down to three clubs in our division now without manager, Hull, Plymouth and Sunderland, but almost certainly Colchester will be added to that list following Phil Parkinson's attempts to resign on Wednesday. He's expected to move to Hull.