Abbott is the first manager to go

By Simon Wright - Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88

The third-longest serving manager in English football was given his P45 on Monday as Carlisle United took the decision to dispense with the services of manager Greg Abbott.

Abbott becomes the first manager to lose his job out of the 72 clubs in the Premier League and Football League in the 2013-14 campaign.  It is almost certain that he will not be the last.

Results haven’t been great for Carlisle supporters this season.  The club sit in the uncomfortable position of the bottom four in the third tier of league football.  With just two points from their opening six games, the Cumbrian outfit are only being kept off the foot of the division by Notts County and the penalised Coventry City, who started the year with a 10-point deduction following a troubled financial summer in the Midlands.

Despite recording an excellent League Cup victory on a penalty shootout against Blackburn Rovers from the Championship in the first round, their journey ended in this competition in round two with a hefty 5-2 home defeat to Leicester City.  It has been dreadful defensive frailties that have cost Abbott his job at Brunton Park.  He had been in charge since 2008.

In his time with Carlisle, the 49-year-old (pictured) steered them to victory in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in 2011 and an eighth place finish in League One in 2012. 

A club statement read: “The board would like to go on record with their acknowledgement and appreciation of the hard work Greg Abbott has done for Carlisle United since he joined the club as first team and reserve team coach in July 2006.

“He has maintained a very professional and close working relationship with everyone at the club and he has put his heart and soul into his stated aim of bringing improvement to every level and area of the business.  The trips to Wembley and the year-on-year improvement in league position, prior to last season, were testament to his efforts and dedication to the job at hand.”

Former Cardiff City midfielder Graham Kavanagh, who was Abbott’s assistant, has been placed in caretaker charge for Saturday’s match with fellow strugglers Sheffield United.  Abbott leaves with a percentage win ratio of just under 35 per cent. 

Paul Simpson is the current bookies favourite to replace Abbott on a full-time basis, with David Unsworth, ex-Sheffield United boss Danny Wilson and former Hull City manager Nick Barmby also believed to be among the frontrunners.

The departure of Abbott shouldn’t come as much of a surprise considering Carlisle’s rocky start to the new season.  While this sacking probably won’t quite start the traditional panic surge of chairman deciding to replace their manager, don’t be too surprised if this changes in the near future.