Former Carlisle United duo's futures clarified by League One club
Former Carlisle United duo's futures clarified by League One club
Jack Sowerby, left, has been released by Northampton while Patrick Brough has been invited back for pre-season after an injury-hit campaign (Image: PA)
Two former Carlisle United players have had their futures clarified at the end of the League One season.
Patrick Brough and Jack Sowerby both feature in Northampton Town's end-of-campaign decisions.
Midfielder Sowerby has been released while Cumbrian defender Brough has been invited back for pre-season training.
The offer to 29-year-old Brough comes after an injury-hit 2024/25 season which saw the Silloth player limited to five appearances in his second campaign with the Cobblers.
ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement
In Sowerby's case, the former United loan midfielder moves on after five years at the Sixfields Stadium.
The decisions come after Kevin Nolan's side finished 19th in the third tier.
Patrick Brough pictured during his time with Carlisle (Image: Barbara Abbott)
Sowerby is one of 11 players released, the others being Tyler Magloire, James Wilson, Nik Tzanev, Ali Koiki, Liam McCarron, Harvey Lintott, Akin Odimayo, Will Hondermarck, TJ Eyoma and Reuben Wyatt.
"We have made some difficult decisions and it is never nice having to tell a player that their contract is not being renewed," said Nolan in a statement accompanying the Cobblers' retained list.
ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement
Brough came through United's academy ranks and made 49 first-team appearances for the Brunton Park club.
He went on to have spells at Morecambe, Falkirk and Barrow before his switch to Northampton in the summer of 2023. He played 41 times in his debut campaign at Sixfields but a broken leg suffered last September ruled him out of action until the closing weeks of the campaign.
Sowerby played 28 times and scored five goals for United in the 2018/19 campaign whilst on loan from Fleetwood Town.
The 30-year-old has made 153 appearances and scored two goals in his time at Northampton.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
3 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Coco Gauff used words and a mirror to persuade herself she could win the French Open
So she drew inspiration from Northampton's Gabby Thomas, who became the women's Advertisement 'I wrote, 'I will be French Open champion 2025' like a bunch of times,' Gauff explained. 'She [Thomas] wrote 'I will be the Olympic champion' and she ended up winning the gold. I think it's a great mindset that she had.' Eight lines on a piece of paper written by Gauff late on a Friday night, then it was finally time for bed, time to rest. Coco Gauff took inspiration from Gabby Thomas at Roland Garros 'I will be the French Open 2025 Champion.' Powerful words fulfilled by a powerful young woman. 🇺🇸❤️ — The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) Not quite. Gauff then persuaded herself a little bit more, by staring at the mirror and convincing herself she was looking at the face of a soon-to-be French Open champion. 'Looking at myself in the mirror so I was trying to instill that belief, and obviously it happened. I didn't know if it was going to work or not. [But] it did,' Gauff said, then laughed as she added: 'When you're desperate, you're just trying anything to think that it's going to help you win.' Advertisement Coco Gauff defeated Aryna Sabalenka, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4, to win the French Open on Saturday. DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images Gauff also posted on Instagram another message she wrote to herself four years ago, which started with the words 'I had a dream last night that I will win [the] French Open.' Job done. What also stood out during the 2 hours, 38 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Saturday — in a gritty final punctuated by swirling winds due to the open roof — was how Gauff stayed calm while Sabalenka imploded and continually remonstrated with herself. Saturday's French Open final was a frustrating afternoon for top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka. Lindsey Wasson/Associated Press All the screams and shouts were coming from Sabalenka's side of the net, while there was an almost quiet, steely focus on Gauff's side. That's largely because, these days, Gauff gets her frustrations out before matches. 'I know how important it is for me to let out those emotions so that when I come on the match court I can try and be as calm as possible,' the No. 2-ranked Gauff said. 'I'm more cool-headed in matches. But in practice I can get pretty upset. Just let me be upset. If I'm upset, I'd rather be upset on the practice court than the match.' Gauff will now switch to the grass-court season and may play in Berlin next week before heading to London for Wimbledon, which starts on June 30. When she gets to London, Gauff will indulge in one of her favorite hobbies: trying to get out of Escape Rooms. 'For sure, I love it, and I'm going to definitely do it,' she said. And how about Sabalenka? How will she be coping with the defeat and the frustrations she so clearly felt? Advertisement Will she be analyzing footage of the match over and over again, trying to understand where she went wrong and what she must do better? Far from it. She's off to indulge herself in Greece. 'I already have a flight booked to Mykonos and alcohol, sugar. I just need couple of days to completely forget about this crazy world,' Sabalenka said. 'Tequila, gummy bears, and I don't know, swimming, being like the tourist for couple of days.'
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Improvement on the ball next step for O'Neill's NI
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill wants to see his side enjoy more of the ball in Tuesday night's friendly against Iceland in Belfast. They defended resolutely for long periods of Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Denmark in Copenhagen but ultimately were undone by Christian Eriksen's 67th-minute winner. Advertisement An own goal from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg had given the visitors the lead after only five minutes, but Denmark equalised through their first shot on target when Gustav Isaksen curled in a fine effort in first-half stoppage time. While Northern Ireland have had some strong results without the majority of the ball during O'Neill's second spell in charge, the former Stoke manager believes doing more in possession will be the next step for his side. "We were never going to be a dominant possession-based team against any of these teams," said O'Neill after Denmark had more than 70% possession on Saturday. "We're asking players who play their football at a League One or Championship level to go out against players who play their football in the top five leagues in Europe. There is a difference in terms of the level that the players play their football. Advertisement "I thought the way we have to try and close that gap is to be what we are, a team that's well organised, well structured, difficult to beat, can frustrate the opposition, but obviously carry a threat as well." Despite taking an early lead, Northern Ireland failed to register a shot on target throughout the game. O'Neill added: "In terms of where we need to get to as a team, we need to be able to retain the ball a little bit better when we win it back, maybe find a little bit more in terms of our level of possession as well and that will help us carry a bigger threat." Knowing they will face Germany in World Cup qualifying in September, O'Neill has consciously taken friendlies against a higher level of opposition than his side faced when earning promotion from the third tier of the Nations League. Advertisement Saturday's reverse was just their fourth in the past 14 games, a run that started with a 2-0 win over Denmark in Belfast in November 2023. In losses to Spain 12 months ago and against Sweden in March, Northern Ireland shipped five goals but, despite their largely stout defending representing a sign of progress in Copenhagen, the game against Iceland will pose a different challenge. The visitors, however, arrive in Belfast buoyed by a victory over Scotland on Friday night. "We need to be better with the ball. So how we set ourselves out as a team will be slightly different," O'Neill said. Advertisement "The teams are more of a similar level, let's be honest, so that in itself will help us, although they had a very good result against Scotland at Hampden Park and played very well. "So it will be a tough test, but it's just a different game for us. It's a game where we will expect to have more of the ball and the responsibility and the onus is on us to obviously take the initiative in the game." While replacing goalkeeper Conor Hazard at half-time was the only Northern Ireland change forced through injury at Parken Stadium, O'Neill said he had made other substitutions to "protect" those carrying knocks after long club seasons. Against Iceland, such concerns will play into team selection but the manager said there will not be wholesale changes for what is their last game before 2026 World Cup qualifying begins away to Luxembourg in September. Advertisement "We'll have to make one or two changes but it's important that we have to use the game wisely as well. "We're not here just to give people minutes for the sake of doing it, they have to earn it as well, so I think we look at how we come through [against Denmark], we'll make I think one or two changes but it won't be massive."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Manchester United have presented their offer for Aymeric Laporte who wants to leave Al-Nassr
Manchester United have presented their offer for Aymeric Laporte who wants to leave Al-Nassr Manchester United could do with defensive reinforcements ahead of the new season, given the departures of Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans. The injury records of Luke Shaw and Matthijs de Ligt are also concerning, while Lisandro Martinez could also be set for a positional change. Advertisement But given the need to strengthen up top, Ruben Amorim is unlikely to have a lot of wriggle room for a new centre-back, which explains the radio silence regarding the club's pursuit of Jarrad Branthwaite. It is likely INEOS will consider a low-cost option, and Football Espana have relayed that the Red Devils have joined the race for Al-Nassr's Aymeric Laporte. Aymeric Laporte wants to return to Europe United fans will remember him well, from his time with Manchester City where he won six Premier League titles and a Champions League. The Spain international is looking for a way out of the Saudi Pro League after spending two seasons with Cristiano Ronaldo's side, and he is prioritising a return to Europe. Advertisement While his former club Athletic Club were looking at a potential cut-price €10 million deal for the 31-year-old, Al-Nassr will try and recoup as close to the €27 million they paid for him in 2023. The report suggests the 20-time English league champions have presented their offer to the defender's agent, while Chelsea have joined the race as well. Laporte has offer from United The likes of Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, Napoli are also monitoring proceedings with interest. 'Chelsea are interested in Laporte! The defender has offers from Manchester United, Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, and Napoli.' His winning mentality could be worth adding to the United dressing room, but INEOS have refrained from stop-gap deals since coming in. Advertisement Aymeric Laporte has struggled in the Middle East, which has also seen him lose his place in the Spanish national team. For the fee being quoted, it makes little sense for United to pursue his signing. Feature image Stuart Franklin via Getty Images Follow us on Bluesky: @
