Carlisle United have said Mark Hughes has left his role as head coach by mutual agreement, ending a spell at Brunton Park that the club says helped steady the team and move it forward. First Team Coach Frankie McAvoy will also depart.
The announcement comes after a season in which Carlisle finished third in the Enterprise National League with 95 points and reached the play-offs. That campaign marked significant progress for the club, even if promotion slipped away. Hughes had been part of that push, with Carlisle thanking him for his professionalism, commitment and leadership during his time at the club.
Chairman Tom Piatak said that after open and respectful discussions, both sides agreed this was the right time for Carlisle to move in a different direction. He said Hughes conducted himself with real professionalism throughout his time with the club, and added that the former head coach leaves with thanks, best wishes and an open invitation to return to Brunton Park.
The move leaves Carlisle looking for a new head coach after a season that had raised hopes of a return to the EFL. The club said it was disappointed not to achieve promotion after reaching the play-offs, but also pointed to the progress made under Hughes as a base for what comes next. It said a further announcement on the head coach position will be made in due course.
For Hughes, the exit closes one chapter at a club that had seen improvement on the pitch but not the final reward it wanted. Carlisle now has to decide quickly whether to keep building on that platform or turn sharply in a new direction, with the next appointment likely to define how the club approaches the months ahead.
