Carlisle United appoint Rob Elliot as head coach following Mark Hughes departure

Carlisle United have appointed former Gateshead manager Rob Elliot as their new head coach, replacing Mark Hughes who departed the club by mutual consent. The appointment was confirmed just four hours after the club announced Hughes’ exit, signalling a swift administrative transition as the club prepares for life in the National League.

Hughes, aged 62, took charge of Carlisle in February 2025 but was unable to prevent the club's relegation following a 2-1 play-off semi-final defeat to fourth-placed Boreham Wood. Although he had previously led the team to third place with 95 points in the prior season, the loss in the semi-final resulted in their drop to the fifth tier of English football. Chairman Tom Piatak stated that open and respectful discussions led to the decision that it was the right time for the club to move in a different direction, while expressing gratitude for the standards Hughes had brought to the institution.

Elliot, a 40-year-old former Newcastle United goalkeeper, arrives from Gateshead after successfully guiding them away from relegation in the National League North. He left the Heed on Wednesday having overseen a remarkable turnaround from the bottom of the table, ending a run of 13 successive league defeats in February and losing only two of their final 15 matches to finish eight points clear of the drop zone.

The new head coach has pledged to implement an "attacking, aggressive" style of football with a clear identity. Speaking to the club website, Elliot described the appointment as a huge opportunity and emphasised his desire for players to give everything for the badge while ensuring fans are excited by the team's approach. His managerial history includes a stint at Crawley Town from October 2024 to March 2025, where he was sacked while the club sat 22nd in the table, before his return to Gateshead in January.

Elliot initially took over at Gateshead in a caretaker capacity in September 2023 after Mike Williamson left for Carlisle. Under his previous tenure, the club finished sixth but missed out on play-offs because their ground did not meet EFL entry criteria. Hughes, a former Manchester United and Wales striker, had previously managed Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, and Stoke City before his recent tenure at Carlisle United, which concluded with their relegation from League One for the 2025/26 season.