We spoke to our new Goalkeeper Coach, Jack Cudworth, after he joined the club until the end of the season.
Speaking to CUTV, he said: “I’m really happy to be here. It's obviously happened quite quickly, I got the call on Wednesday and then had a couple of discussions with Rob [Clarkson] yesterday and started today.
"I’m excited to be here but obviously mindful of the fact that we've got a real job to do in terms of the last 16 games or so of the season to get wins on the board and get us out of the relegation zone.”
Jack then spoke about his career so far, saying: “I was a young pro at Preston, released at 18, went and played in the Welsh League for a bit then went back into full-time football with Macclesfield in League Two. Then we were relegated after two years so I went back playing non-league, played for Chorley, Telford, Colwyn Bay and then I went over to Welsh Premier League.
“I got offered the job of being full-time first team assistant goalkeeping coach at Preston in 2015 when they went up to the Championship.
“So, throughout my playing time I was coaching at the academy at Preston. And then in 2018 when Alan Kelly left I moved up to the first team at Preston and did a number of roles including working with the young pros as a first team development coach.
“Then I left Preston, went to Wigan, had two years at Wigan, obviously really successful in terms of the goalkeeping department there last season with Sam Tickle doing as well as he did.
"And then since I left Wigan, I've been working in South East Asia with the Taiwan national team so that's been an incredible experience but really happy to be back doing the day-to-day side of things.
“Obviously there's been a lot of investment at the club but that's on the backburner at the moment. We've really got to be focused on getting some points to get us out of that relegation zone.”
We were interested to hear more about Cudworth’s time with Taiwan, so we asked him how that had come about. He explained: "The manager is actually English. He's a bloke called Gary Wright who's a really good coach.
"He's been out there all his life. He's worked in the Chinese Super League, worked in the J League in Japan with some big clubs and done a couple of national team roles. So I got the call off him in August and it was a bit of a no-brainer really.
“I managed to travel the world over the last few months and obviously the international side of football is very different to the club side so from a work and a life experience it's been really rewarding but my goal has always been to come back to the day-to-day of club football and I've been presented with this opportunity and I'm really grateful and excited to get going.
“Football's football at the end of the day whether you're playing in Cambodia or Singapore which we have done or whether you're playing here in Carlisle on a Saturday in League Two.
“There's obviously cultural differences and different ways of life over there but from a footballing perspective it's very similar. We try to play the right way. Obviously the club's trying to do that here as well and there's little bits I can take, but I'd probably be relying more on my experiences at Preston and Wigan rather than my footballing experiences there.
“I'm only 34 but I've been a first team goalkeeping coach since I was 27 so I've got seven years experience doing this job and hopefully I can help the goalkeepers with that experience.”
We asked Jack about his discussions with Sporting Director, Rob Clarkson. He said: “They’ve been really positive. Rob's obviously got a real clear vision of where he wants the club to go.
“Very quick, very straightforward. You can see how our views are aligned on a numerous amount of things and yeah it was very simple to do. He pitched the club to me, what they're trying to do and obviously speaking with Rob and the fact that I get the opportunity to work with Mark Hughes and Glyn Hodges was also a really big factor.
“They're both incredibly respected figures within the game and you can see already just one session in and one morning with them that they've got a real good outlook on the game and they've got real positive thoughts on how we're going to get out of this situation.”
Then, on the current goalkeepers, Jack said: “I know Gabe, he obviously played for Carlisle at Wigan last season in the league. He's done exceptionally well for a young goalkeeper.
“Harry hasn't had the best of times since he's been here but there's a very good goalkeeper in Harry Lewis.
“He was statistically the best goalkeeper in the league a couple of seasons ago at Bradford. He was on our radar at Wigan and then we've got Jude as well so it's a really good group.
“Three goalkeepers who I will demand that they push each other every day but we will very much be there for each other.
“Whoever's playing, whether it's Harry, whether it's Gabe or whether it's Jude, we will support each other and work to do the best for the team.”
We asked Jack what could be expected from him, and what type of coach he is. He responded: “I'm a very honest, straightforward person. If I think something, I will say it.
“Like I said, I've got good experience, Championship and League One level. This is my first time as a coach in League Two but I was a player in League Two and primarily a number two goalkeeper as well so I understand the frustrations that come with that but that's not an excuse to throw the toys out the prime or sulk which none of the goalkeepers have done previously so there won't be a problem with that.
“I'm very analytical, I like looking at what the opposition are doing, what the trends are, where the goals come from and really preparing the goalkeepers for what's going to come on a matchday and then obviously we'll try and improve them every day in every aspect of goalkeeping but I make sure they're very well prepared.
“When it comes to a matchday I like to leave them alone and let them get into the zone and focus on their routines and what they need to do to get ready for the game but they will be as prepared as they possibly can be.”
Jack had taken his first training session in the morning prior to this interview, he talked about how it went, saying: “It was really impressive, really good start to the morning. All three goalkeepers trained excellently, the team trained excellently and there's a positive feel about the players despite recent results.
“The performances, particularly on Tuesday night, I watched the game yesterday, how the team came away with a defeat there is beyond me. That's football though, that's the way it goes when you're down there sometimes.
“It seems to be the case when you're down there that things don't go your way but the onus is on us as a team to really take the initiative to Colchester tomorrow and get the fans on side and give them something to cheer about.
“I was here last year with Wigan and we drew, and the place was bouncing. The first-half it was dominant from Wigan but Carlisle responded really well and it was rocking so hopefully we can get that.
“Tomorrow, we can get three points on the board and get on a run with quite a number of home fixtures to come. The crowd is going to be really important and the onus is on us to get them on side and give them something to get behind us with.”
On his aims during his time here, Jack said: "Obviously the main goal is keeping the club in the division this season.
“We'll get some wins on the board but everyone's focus is on this three-month period now. To get a run together, get points on the board and get us climbing up the table and with the squad, with the staff that's in place, I see no reason why that can't happen.”