Carlisle United Appoint Paul Hart As Board Advisor

Carlisle United this week confirmed that 72-year-old Paul Hart has joined the club as an advisor to the Board.

Paul Hart brings with him 50 plus years of experience to Brunton Park having played, coached, and managed across all levels of English Football in that time. This has covered a number of different leagues in both first team and academy roles. 

A Look At Paul Hart’s Career

Until late in 2024 he was Assistant Manager at Charlton Athletic in League One under Nathan Jones. This was a position he held from February 2024, until stepping down from the role in August.

He was part of the coaching staff at Luton Town in the Championship during the 2020/21 campaign, which was his second stint with the club. Prior to that, Paul was Assistant Manager at Stoke City in the Championship from 2016-2018, he was at Luton during their rise through the EFL, with a second spell at Notts County as Technical Director also during that time.

In 2015, Hart joined Leeds United as Academy Director and Under-21s’ Manager. Throughout his first stint at Notts County – initially employed as Acting Academy Manager – he served as Caretaker Manager. Paul was also appointed as Academy Director at Charlton Athletic in June 2011, and would stay at The Valley until May 2014.

Between 2009 and 2011, Hart held three separate managerial positions at Swindon Town, Crystal Palace and Queen’s Park Rangers. This followed a spell at Portsmouth, where he was appointed as Director of Youth Operations. During a two-year spell from 2004 to 2006, Hart also managed Barnsley and Rushden and Diamonds, after taking charge of Nottingham Forest’s Academy. 

His first academy-related role came at Leeds United, where he won the FA Youth Cup in 1993 and 1997 during a five-year stay with the club. Hart’s first managerial position was with Chesterfield in 1988, before exiting the club early in 1991. In his playing career, he amassed a total of 567 league appearances at Birmingham City, Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Blackpool.

The club said that Paul Hart has joined the club on a consultancy basis to support and assist the Board of Directors in a senior football advisory role.

Hart will bring the benefit of his expertise and vast experience to the Board, on key strategic footballing matters, to help shape and support the club’s long-term football vision. He will serve as a sounding board, providing an independent perspective. He will not be part of the club’s day-to-day football operations. 

What Did Paul Hart Have To Say?

After joining the club, Paul said “I am delighted to be able to assist the Board and give my support when called upon. I am really looking forward to helping wherever I can, as the Board require.”

Our Opinion On This Appointment

The experience and the knowledge of fifty plus years in football can only be a good thing for the club. The owners and board have needed proper football people advising them for the last 18 months and now they have made a real stride in the right direction by appointing Paul Hart.

Hart’s connections and the amount of clubs he’s worked for over that time period can only be positive as well and hopefully that means Carlisle United can maintain good relationships with a lot of EFL clubs despite being in the National League next season.

The fact he it has been announced that he is independent and not part of the club’s day-to-day operations is a huge positive for me because it means he’ll be honest and won’t just be a yes man which is something I think that has been a problem at the club for a long time.

Dan and Craig would like to offer a warm Paddock Perception welcome to Paul Hart and we hope his time at Brunton Park is successful.

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