Carlisle United Football Club can confirm that striker Cole Stockton has today left the club by mutual consent.
The Blues signed the 24-year old forward on an 18-month deal during the January 2018 transfer window. He made 12 appearances for the club through the second half of last season and scored one goal – a glanced header in the dramatic 4-3 away defeat at Wycombe in February.
Manager John Sheridan said: “I’ve been honest with Cole. I need to fill positions and I need finances, so I had to look at other things.
“This will allow him to go and play first team football, if he can find a club, which is what he needs at this stage of his career.”
“I’ve made it clear a number of times that I need a centre half and a wide man, so this will hopefully make it easier for me to get those players in,” he continued. “I’ll be working hard now to try and fill those areas.
“Even with us having agreed this, nothing will be happening in terms of new faces before the weekend. My focus is completely on the Exeter game and making sure we’re ready for that.
“I’ll take care of everything else after the game on Saturday.”
Stockton came through the youth ranks with Tranmere Rovers and scored 23 goals in 115 appearances whilst with the Prenton Park outfit, having signed his first professional deal with the Lilywhites in 2012.
He had loan spells with Vauxhall Motors, Southport and Morecambe as he cut his teeth in the game, and he was snapped up by Scottish Premier League outfit Hearts as he made the move north of the border during the summer of 2017. He played 15 games for the Jam Tarts before making the move back to England.
Everyone at Carlisle United wishes Cole Stockton all the very best as he moves on from the club.