Carlisle United Football Club are delighted to confirm that the club has retained the services of first-team keeper coach Paul Gerrard.
Gerrard, 49, teamed up with Paul Simpson on a short-term deal at the end of February as part of the backroom staff, with the manager making no secret of the fact that he wanted that relationship to extend beyond the end of this campaign.
“We’ve had a lot of conversations over the weekend, and I spoke to him again on Monday afternoon and, to be fair, we were 99.9% there with it all at that point,” manager Paul Simpson said.
“I’d heard such good things about him when I was looking for somebody 15 games ago and, I have to say, that has all been shown to be true.
“He’s so professional, and he has a great way with both the experienced and young keepers, and I’m just delighted that it’s another thing that we’ve been able to sort out quickly.
“He knows the club now, he loves being here and I know he’s really enjoyed being part of rebuilding the positivity that we’ve all seen return to the club.
“He’s seen the potential with the way the fans have responded, and he’s got the bit between his teeth in terms of wanting to carry on with this journey we all want to go on.
“It’s great news for me, for my staff and for the club, and I know he’ll continue to play an important part in the work we’re all doing.”
Gerrard started as a youngster with Oldham, where he blossomed quickly to take the number one shirt. 136 outings caught the eye of Everton, and he was snapped up by the Toffees for a reported £1m+ fee whilst still only 23.
He made 99 appearances at Goodison, and also enjoyed loan spells with Oxford, Ipswich, Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest, before making the move to Nottingham a permanent one in 2004.
His first step into coaching came with Oldham in 2010, where he deputised for Dean Brill, and he has also guided the stoppers with Shrewsbury, and most recently with Doncaster Rovers.