by John Fuller

Last updated at 12:57, Wednesday, 16 July 2008

Former Carlisle hero Richie Foran believes he is the man to put an end to United's search for a striker and fire them into the Championship.

Richie Foran

Foran, 28, has issued a come and get me plea to United boss John Ward after being told he is surplus to requirements at League One rivals Southend United.

Ward met with the board last week to discuss his transfer options with a striker top of his wanted list.

Rumours of scoring sensation Joe Garner leaving for Nottingham Forest were again denied as United look to hold onto one of their hottest properties but Ward still wants to bolster his attacking options.

Trialist Dean Nicholson has been told that he will not be offered a deal by United. The former Workington Reds striker played 45 minutes in United’s 4-0 win against Kendal last Friday but has been released meaning the hunt goes on.

Foran, who suffered a knee injury last season, has been out since April but after a three month layoff he is ready to make his comeback.

The former United hit man, who netted 29 goals in his three year spell between 2001 and 2004 says it would be a dream for John Ward to give him a chance to get his career back on track and he believes he is the man to fire the Cumbrians to the Championship.

Speaking exclusively to News & Star Sport, he said: “It hasn't gone well for me at Southend since we got relegated.

“The manager has been honest with me and told me that I'm not in his plans this season, so the main thing for me is to get myself fit, find a club and to get back to enjoying football again.

“I want to be back in the north if possible and it would be a dream come true to play for Carlisle again.

“I believe I can bring a lot to the team and I know I can score goals. Carlisle have some good strikers but I have proved I can score goals and I want to score for Carlisle.” In 2004 Foran was released by United after their relegation to the Conference in what turned out to be a tough year for the Irishman.

“My last season at Carlisle was hard. I was in a couple of scuffles outside of football and appeared in court. It affected my game and I ended up being loaned out to Oxford,” he said.

“That was unsettling for me and when my contract ran out I knew it was time to leave.

“I have got some regrets from my time at Carlisle, and if I could turn back the clock and change things then I would but I wasn't as bad as some people made me out to be.

“I have matured now and learned so much in the last couple of years and I only wish I knew then what I know now. I want the chance to put it right.”

Foran, whose spell at United saw the end of the Knighton era, said it was a tough time to be at the club but the Blues fans are still the best he has played for.

He said: “When I arrived at the club I was nervous because the club was a lot bigger than what I was used to playing for in Ireland but I knew this is where I wanted to play my football.

“I already knew Roddy Collins and Peter Murphy looked after me. I am a shy lad until I get to know people so I really appreciated what Murph did for me.

“My first impression of my new teammates was that on the whole they were a good group but lacked a lot of confidence. However, I felt that a few of them were just happy to turn up and collect their wages. They didn't want to put the work in, which annoyed me.

“It was hard being a United player under Michael Knighton. “He just wanted to make money.

“But despite all that, I have never been to a town where the people get behind their team so much. I felt wanted at Carlisle and it was great hearing the fans cheer my name.

“The current bunch of United players should be very proud of the supporters because they are a great bunch, the best I have played for.”

Foran's proudest moment as a Carlisle player came in a 2-2 draw with Halifax. United needed a point to guarantee themselves a place in the old Division Three and with seconds to spare, Foran struck.

“We must have had more than 1,000 fans in the stand that night,” he said.

“It was during my first season at the club and we still needed a point to make sure of safety. It was a corner and when the ball came over I slid it in from about six yards. All the fans went crazy. It was a very special moment for me.”

At the end of that season Knighton was gone and fellow Irishman John Courtenay took over. Foran said: "The atmosphere changed a lot when John came in. He was a businessman, like Knighton, but there was a massive difference between the two.

“John is a football fan who wanted to see us climb the leagues and win trophies and if that meant losing money himself then he was willing to make that sacrifice and that is why the players and supporters liked him a lot. He was a popular man around the club.”

Despite fighting another relegation battle the following year, United made the final of the then named LDV Vans trophy.

“Roddy was a great manager to work for because, with the backing of John he gave the players everything they asked for and made us feel really looked after.

“He was also a great motivator and no matter how bad things were going he would never let you drop your head and that is why we got to the Millennium Stadium.

“We didn't really perform on the day which was disappointing but it was good to see the fans having a good day out.”

Foran spent three years with Scottish Premier League side Motherwell and under the guidance of former England captain Terry Butcher and feels he has grown as a person as well as a footballer. “I learned so much from Terry. He really taught me how to be a professional footballer on and off the pitch,” he said.

“I honestly believe I have become a better man and a better footballer from working with him. I enjoyed football up there and going to Rangers and Celtic was amazing for me.

“I played some of my best football in Scotland which is why Southend paid so much for me.

Foran is now trying to get himself fit in time for the big kick off in August, but at the moment he doesn’t know where he will be.

First published at 11:44, Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk