Former Mansfield Town boss Keith Curle gets contract extension at Carlisle United

Ex-Mansfield Town boss Keith Curle gives a thumbs up to the home crowd after receiving a round of applause -Pic by: Richard Parkes

Former Mansfield Town boss Keith Curle has been given a contract extension at League Two rivals Carlisle United that will take him to the end of season 2017/18.

It is the longest deal handed to a Carlisle manager since John Ward signed a four-year contract in 2007 and ended protracted talks that followed a November announcement that Curle had ‘agreed’ the new terms.

Carlisle’s chairman Andrew Jenkins feels Curle, who has been in charge since September 2014, has ‘transformed’ the club and said on United’s website: “We’re pleased that it’s all put to bed.

“We were struggling at the time he joined us but he’s introduced working practices in a way I’ve never seen the club operate before. We’re very confident that together we can take the club forward.”

The 52-year-old former Notts County boss led United to League Two safety last season before overhauling the squad in the summer and are currently 12th, with games in hand.

Curle was at Field Mill between 2002 and 2004. Unable to save Stags when taking over in the relegation zone in his first season, he led them to the play-off final where they were beaten by Huddersfield Town on penalties at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

Curle was controversially sacked in December 2004 after allegations of bullying a youth team player, but he went on to win a case for wrongful dismissal and was awarded undisclosed damages.