Scottish club eye closer links with Carlisle United

Queen of the South want to forge closer links with Carlisle United.

First on the agenda is a pre-season meeting where the clubs would compete for a ‘Borders Cup’.

And there will also be discussions about other mutual ways the clubs can help each other.

That is the vision of new Queens director Jim McLinden, who is a long-term sponsor of United.

The Cumbria-based businessman recently joined the Doonhamers board, where he recently oversaw the appointment of United legend and ex-Annan Athletic boss Peter Murphy as Queens’ new manager.

The Scottish League One club are hoping to rebuild after a poor spell in the third tier north of the border.

They are also eyeing cross-border relations with United and say the Blues are receptive to the idea.

In a message to Queens supporters on the club’s website, McLinden – head of North Lakes Energy – said: “For the last decade, my wife and I have been one of the main sponsors of Carlisle United.

“We have sponsored their academy all that time and the last three years, we have also sponsored the youth team as well.

Jim and Helen McLinden, through their North Lakes Energy firm, are long-time sponsors of Carlisle United (Image: Barbara Abbott)

“We have also been involved and supported them in various other initiatives and before I became a [Queens] director, I had been asked by the board to see if I could use my relationship with the club to try and get Queens and Carlisle back together again.

“There used to be a good relationship with the clubs. Talks have taken place and Carlisle chief executive [Nigel Clibbens] is delighted to try and help.

“Right now, we are looking at reinstating a pre-season friendly for the Borders Cup.

“We will look at how we can use players in different ways as it makes sense for both clubs.

“We are within 40 minutes travelling of each other. We're both full time clubs, but neither is competing with the other, so it's a great way to provide support both ways and I see a few things working out from that.”

United loaned young defender Max Kilsby to Queens in the second half of last season.

They also loaned Kilsby and Kai Nugent to Annan during Murphy’s spell in charge at Galabank.

The former Blues favourite has now switched to Dumfries to try and rebuild Queens in order to get them back into the Scottish Championship.

McLinden said of Murphy’s appointment as Marvin Bartley’s successor: “In terms of ambition, we cannot have another season like we have just had [a seventh-placed finish in League One] -  we have outlined to Peter that we must be pushing for promotion next season, which he has accepted.

“We have confidence in his ability and we are excited to see what will happen.”

The Borders Cup was a pre-season competition which ran in the early 1990s, United playing in the inaugural 1991 edition when they lost to Queens and defeated Berwick Rangers to finish third in the cup.