On Tuesday evening, Carlisle United announced the signing of defender Morgan Feeney on a two-year deal following the players departure from Shrewsbury Town.
Feeney, 26, came through the ranks at Everton, before joining Tranmere Rovers for the second-half of the 2019/20 campaign.
In the summer of 2020, he joined Sunderland but only feature on a couple of occasions. The centre-back initially joined the Cumbrians in January 2021 on a deal until the following summer, prior to penning a one-year extension which included a club option for a further year until the end of the 2022/23 season, which was ultimately activated.
After captaining the Blues to promotion in 2023 he then joined Shrewsbury Town where his contract expired this summer.
Head Coach, Mark Hughes said: “Bringing Morgan back is a move we’re extremely pleased with. He embodies all the characteristics you look for in a player – professionalism, drive, quality on the pitch, and a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed.
“Morgan’s familiarity with the club, its culture, and the expectations placed on players to perform will be invaluable as we continue to build for the season ahead. His experience and presence will add hugely to the leadership within the team, both on and off the field.
“I’m looking forward to working with him and I’m excited about what he will bring to the squad.”
Head of Football Operations, Marc Tierney said: “We’re thrilled to welcome back a proven leader and winner to Brunton Park in Morgan Feeney.
“Morgan truly embodies our ethos and our ambitions for the future. His return marks an exciting step forward as we continue building a team that reflects our values and vision.”
This deal will be completed upon the expiration of his current contract and he’ll officially join the club on 1 July.
On his return to Brunton Park the play done an in depth interview with CUTV where he said the following:
Feeney said: “I’m buzzing. Delighted to be back. Can’t wait to get started now, finally it’s done.”
Feeney captained United to promotion before joining Shrewsbury Town in the summer of 2023.
“I enjoyed my time at Shrewsbury.
“Last season didn’t go the way we wanted to there, but I gained loads of experience there and played in some decent games, so I enjoyed my time there.”
“I’m a centre-back, I didn’t play right-back as much as I’ve seen from what people have said on that, but no, I’m a centre-back. I’ve done a job at right-back and tried to do as best as I can.
“I feel like my best position is centre-back, but listen, wherever I’m asked to play, I’ll play.
“I’m here to do my best for the club. I’ve always loved this club, I’ve always loved playing for this club, so I’m back now hopefully to go and perform on the pitch.
“My main focus now is obviously getting the club back up to where they need to be because it’s definitely not where they belong.
“I think the aim is to get them back to League One where we finished last.
“When I left here, it was on a massive high because we got promoted at Wembley. It’s a different situation coming back this time where we almost need to build that back up again, but speaking to the gaffer and what he wants from the group and myself, I’ve got an utmost belief that we’re going to go and do that this season and beyond.
“That’s my aim. That’ll be the group’s aim, I’m sure, this season, to go and put things right, I suppose, and get the club back to where it needs to be.
“I think, first and foremost, giving the fans something back for them to cheer about again. That comes from performances and doing well on the pitch. Myself and I’m sure the lads, when I meet them all, that’ll be the first thing that we’re going to try and do. Obviously, win games, try and put on performances and get the club back up, like I say, and give the fans something to shout about again.”
“I’ll do my bit where I need to do it, but first and foremost, get it right on the football pitch. That’s what the club needs, that’s what the fans need.
“So, for myself, yeah, I’ll muck in where I need to muck in and just hopefully get off to a flyer again this season.”
Talking on the importance of character in the dressing room, Morgan said: “I think that was a massive strength for us on certainly the promotion season. When I was last here, we had such good characters in the dressing room and, you know, we had a strong union in the dressing room and, you know, hopefully we’ll have that this season too.
“You can see how far that takes you when you have that tight-knit group. So hopefully, you know, we’re all singing from the same hymn sheet and bounce back up.”
On the importance of leadership within the group, he added: “I think you need four, five, six captains in the team, you know, where everyone’s leading in their own way and I think that, you know, that counts for this season too.
“You’re going to need everyone pulling together and you need all your leaders out there and, you know, anyone can help along the way – I’m sure everyone will.
Finally, Feeney ended with a short message for the fans, saying: “Let’s have another good go!”
My Opinion On The Move
I think this move is a real sign of intent from Carlisle United. Feeney is a League One level player and to have him in the National League is a true sign of the appeal of the project at Brunton Park.
Feeney’s leadership qualities have already been demonstrated once at the club and I think they will be needed again to help Mark Hughes’ side bounce straight back to the EFL.
The defender did leave the club under a bit of a cloud back in 2023 but the supporters I’ve spoken to aren’t thinking about that and know the qualities Feeney brings to the side so I don’t think that will be an issue at all.
The first two additions this summer in Regan Linney and Morgan Feeney are really positive signs that the club are determined to get the recruitment right this transfer window after numerous failed windows. It still remains to be seen how many players the club can move on but with Will Patching already been loaned out it shows the club are 100% focussed on getting this window right and that’s all the supporters want to see, steps in the right direction.
Finally, we both just wanted to wish Morgan Feeney and Regan Linney a warm Paddock Perception welcome and we hope their time at Brunton Park brings a lot of special moments and success.
Thanks everyone for reading the latest Paddock Perception and don’t forget to follow Dan and Craig on X:
@dan_batemannn
@CraigWL1997
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