Mark Hughes Releases Thirteen Players Following Tough Season at Carlisle United
Former Manchester United forward and club legend Mark Hughes, who scored 116 goals in 353 appearances for the club, has seen off thirteen players following the end of his team’s season.
As the manager of National League side Carlisle United, Hughes’s season ended in heartbreak, as his side lost its play-off semi-final last Sunday.
Following a disappointing conclusion to their football calendar, Carlisle have released a staggering thirteen first-team players, as confirmed on their club website.
Players released: Jake Allan, Archie Davies, Josh Grant, Aaron Hayden, Sam Hetherington (invited back for pre-season), Dan Hopper, Jordan Jones (mutual agreement), Sam Murray, Freddie O’Donoghue, Thomas Randall, Ethan Robson, Terell Thomas, Charlie Wyke
It’s a huge turnover of players, but the club has managed to keep hold of league top scorer Regan Linney, who could be sold or maintained as part of next season’s promotion push.
While Linney’s future has been secured for now, manager and former Manchester United forward Hughes’s isn’t as clear.
When asked about what’s to come in a post-match interview following their play-off loss to Boreham Wood, Hughes admitted to BBC Radio Cumbria, “It’s all a bit raw at the moment, so there’s a few things I need to consider.
“But I’ve enjoyed everything that we’ve done here as a group. I think the staff have been outstanding, and the players have responded to that.
“So I’m grateful for that. The next few days will give everybody a bit of clarity, I’m sure.”
Hughes joined Carlisle United in February 2025, after managing over 500 Premier League games across various clubs.
According to the News & Star, Hughes is on a rolling deal at Brunton Park rather than a fixed-term contract that is up for renewal. It leaves his future up in the air, with the 62-year-old not being tied down to manage the club at the start of the 2026/27 season.
What’s to come in the future is currently unclear, but Carlisle United fans will certainly be hoping for news sooner rather than later.