Carllisle United yesterday released an update on the club’s coaching staff for the upcoming season, with Mark Hughes’ previous assistant Glyn Hodges leaving the club due to family commitments.
Speaking after leaving Brunton Park, Glyn said: “After careful consideration, I’ve decided to step away from my current role. The commute has significantly impacted on my work-life balance, and I believe it’s time to prioritise a healthier daily routine, along with family commitments.
“I’m grateful for the experiences and opportunities I’ve been given by Tom, Patty and the Piatak family and wish them well, as well as Mark and the team for the coming season.”
Who is Hodges’ replacement, Frankie McAvoy?
Hodges’ position was quickly filled by Frankie McAvoy, taking the role of first team coach under Mark Hughes. McAvoy brings a good amount of experience to the club, having worked as a coach under Alex Neil at Hamilton Academical, Norwich City and Preston North End. McAvoy also had a stint as head coach of Preston, following a successful spell as interim manager, winning 14 out his 33 games in charge of the club.
He then had a spell at Hearts as Academy Director in 2022, before being assisting Steven Naismith as head coach a little over a year later. Earlier this year in March, McAvoy joined AFC Fylde as interim assistant coach before departing the club following Fylde’s relegation from the National League.
Gavin Skelton returns to the Blues.
Yesterday also saw a return to Carlisle for Gavin Skelton, who makes a comeback less than a year after leaving the Cumbrians alongside then manager Paul Simpson after a long spell as assistant manager to names such as Keith Millen, Chris Beech and Steven Pressley.
Skelton has left Hartlepool to facilitate his return to the club, having been a first team coach at the Pools since November 2024.
Head of Football Operations, Marc Tierney said: “We are happy to support Mark Hughes with the additions of Frankie and Gav to the coaching team.
“Frankie brings coaching experience in the National League and above, as well as valuable knowledge and insight to our coaching setup which will be a real asset for the season ahead.
“We are also delighted to welcome Gav back to Brunton Park. He is someone who knows Carlisle well and has strong ties to the club.
“Bringing Gav in is an important step towards building a strong and effective team around the players.
“We’re confident this coaching group will provide the support and expertise needed for a successful season.”
What do these appointments mean for Carlisle United?
This news will certainly have raised a few eyebrows among Carlisle United fans, with Glyn Hodges’ having came to the club alongside Mark Hughes and United fans will certainly feel like they’re losing a big figure in the regime that gave the side a real fighting chance of staying up towards the end of the 2024/25 season. Another question mark is the fact that Hughes hasn’t worked with either McAvoy or Skelton before, which suggests that these appointments are largely being driven by other individuals rather than Hughes himself.
McAvoy does unquestionably bring with him some good experience at multiple levels of the game however, having worked in the Championship, SPL and National League at various stages of his career, which will hopefully be a boost to the club going forward.
Gavin Skelton’s return is another decision which will almost definitely split opinions, as a large portion of the fanbase were happy to see him leave the club last year, after being a part of multiple different coaching regimes which ultimately failed to deliver.
With that said however, Skelton undoubtedly knows Carlisle inside and out, and is blue through and through, so he will bring the level of experience, knowhow and passion that could help really reconnect the fanbase to the club after a tough couple of years at Brunton Park.
We at Paddock Perception would like to thank Glyn Hodges’ for his time at Carlisle United, and wish Frankie McAvoy and Gavin Skelton all the best in their new roles at the club as they attempt to drive the side back into the Football League.
Thanks everyone for reading and don’t forget you can follow Dan and Craig on X for more Carlisle United content:
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Paddock Perception 
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