Last updated 11:22, Tuesday, 04 November 2008

The king is dead. Long live the king. Such is the nature of football management and Carlisle United supporters have seen more coronations than most.

United watchers had presumed that such instability had been left behind in a chaotic past. But not even a manager with John Ward’s pedigree could survive a run of 10 defeats in 11 matches.

The club’s board was left with no realistic option. The manager had lost his ability to rally the troops, and it is rather easier to say goodbye to one man than to 20.

What looked as recently as September like a promotion campaign has descended into a relegation battle. Ward’s assistant Greg Abbott gives the impression of a man who relishes a challenge and he has been given three months to claim the manager’s role on a permanent basis – or what passes for permanent in professional football.

Whether Abbott has the tactical nous to steer the ship clear of danger remains to be seen but he deserves this opportunity after being overlooked in favour of Ward following a successful spell as caretaker last year.

United’s board has made the sad but correct decision to part with Ward. Now they, as much as the players and the coaching staff, are responsible for taking the club forward. How far it goes depends as much as anything else on their ambition.