Former Bury manager Lee Clark was spotted in the executive boxes at Carlisle United recently, but he's stressed he isn't interested in Keith Curle's job.

Carlisle United made the league Two play-offs last season, but they've off the pace in twelfth this time around. Clark was spotted in the stands twice recently, sat close to Carlisle's directors. He insists he's not there ahead of any move for the top job.

Speaking to the News and Star, Clarke said: "There's nothing sinister in me being there at all. It's only 40-odd miles from where I live and, over the years, the club have always been good to me in terms of providing me with a ticket."

Clark then revealed a long-standing connection with the club, stretching back to his childhood days.

"I've got an affinity which goes a long way back to the 1980s, when I was a young boy and used to go and watch my brother-in-law, Paul Baker, play there. I used to stand around in the corridors at Brunton Park, kicking the ball around - I was only seven or eight years of age then. Bob Stokoe and Pop Robson, who I later worked with at Sunderland, were there."

The rumours are also fuelled by the fact Clark worked under current Chief Executive Nigel Clibbens at Huddersfield, causing fans to make a further link. Clark was absolutely certain there was nothing at all in his attending the games.

"Because of social media and the world we're living in now in football, nine-tenths of the stuff that gets reported is absolute garbage, when you cut deep into the reality of it."

Carlisle travel to Yeovil tomorrow having won two games on the bounce, just about keeping their faint play-off hopes alive.

The Verdict

Although it is considered news worthy, it isn't uncommon to see players and managers watching games elsewhere.

To be a guest of the directors not once, but twice could be seen as suspicious, but Curle isn't under any undue pressure at Brunton Park and is highly likely to be there come the end of the season.