Last updated 13:36, Thursday, 29 May 2008

THE failure of Carlisle United to gain promotion to the Championship may be a blessing in disguise.

Dejected: United’s Chris Lumsdon reflects after the second-leg defeat against Leeds at Brunton Park

To survive in the higher division would have meant a massive investment on the playing side and considerable outlay over three years to bring the ground up to all-seater status.

I am not sure whether the finance would have been available for such a step-up.

The players and staff must be congratulated on a top-four finish after last year’s eighth place but lessons must be learned.

Firstly, that the season lasts 46 games, not just 38, so the squad must be stronger, not just in terms of ability but numerically, so that fatigue does not set in.

Secondly, that games last 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Too many goals were conceded late on in games and not enough were scored.

Despite some disappointingly low attendances for certain games this season’s average crowds of 7,835 were slightly up on last year and the best, I believe, since the First Division season of 1974-75.

Let’s get behind John Ward and the team and maybe next year the dream will become a reality.

S DENT
Carnforth