Harte expected to sign Carlisle Utd deal this afternoon
Former Leeds star Ian Harte is on the brink of becoming a Carlisle United player and is expected to complete his permanent move to the Cumbrians later this afternooN.
I am more passionate than ever about the game, says Carlisle Utd signing Harte
A bank in North Yorkshire was a suitable setting for Carlisle United to add a high-earning player to their payroll.
Ian Harte, it can safely be presumed, has vaulted towards the top of the money tree at Brunton Park during the recession.
Greg Abbott, the United manager, was quick to ladle praise on the club’s directors for sanctioning the signing of an illustrious performer who does not come cheaply, especially in tough financial times when most clubs – Carlisle included – are scything their budgets.
The message from on high at Brunton Park is that Harte’s acquisition is an investment worth making. Few supporters, having witnessed the 31-year-old’s impressive contributions in his three games near the end of last season, will disagree.
And further encouragement arrives when Harte admits that his trio of starring appearances were delivered despite the former Leeds hero being nowhere near his physical peak.
“I wasn’t fit – I was miles off,†says Harte, in the unlikely setting of Yorkshire Bank, Thornaby, where United’s hierarchy finally got the signature they wanted.
“When you are not playing week-in, week-out, as I hadn’t been, you are way off the pace when you come in with a bunch of lads, no matter how well you train on your own.
“I didn’t play many games at all last season so I will be training all through the summer. I’ve been in the gym pretty much every day since the season finished and I want to start the season on top form.â€
A fully-fit and sharp Ian Harte is a vision for which Carlisle fans will be counting down the days between now and August, now the former Republic of Ireland defender has agreed a two-year deal with the Blues.
Lingering in the mind, alongside the many bleak memories of United’s battle for survival last term, are the accomplished efforts of Harte at centre-half against Northampton, Cheltenham and Millwall, games which contributed to Carlisle securing their place in League One by a single point on the final day.
Can we, then, expect the man who made his international and Premier League name at left-back to retain a central role in 2009/10? Not necessarily.
“What I have said to the gaffer is that, for me to give the best to any team, I need to play in my best position – and that is left-back,†Harte says.
“That’s where I have played for many years. I want to give the best to Carlisle and get the best out of myself. Left-back is my best position and hopefully that will be the manager’s decision.
“But of course, I will go out and give 100 per cent wherever I play.â€
Harte’s eagerness to become a fully-fledged member of Greg Abbott’s team glows throughout the interview. It comes through most impressively when he is asked how a player who has sampled Premier League, Champions League and World Cup football can retain his hunger for the relative mediocrity of League One.
The differences now, he insists, are that stars have been removed from his eyes, that any personal and collective success now comes in more authentic, less pampered circumstances, and that the good days are appreciated more now that his career is rolling into its final third.
“When I was at Leeds, playing Champions League football, it was a time when people were getting four and five-year contracts,†he says. “I was playing in a good team, competing in European semi-finals, pushing Manchester United for the title and beating teams like Liverpool. It was a good time, but things were pretty much given to you then.
“When you get towards your 30s, it is a bit different. I am more passionate to play now than I was then. I am more hungry for it.â€
He bats away an inquiry about rumoured interest from Blackpool, among others. Harte prefers to remain on-message about Carlisle’s prospects, to the point where he claims the Cumbrians now appear above his country on his list of priorities.
The fact that League One players such as Scunthorpe’s Joe Murphy are regular picks in the Republic squad suggests that Giovanni Trapattoni could conceivably come calling should Harte regain the poise which earned him 64 international caps, the last of which came on February 7, 2007, in a 2-1 victory at San Marino.
But the free-kick expert says: “I’m not really bothered about the international scene now. I remember when I was in the Ireland squad and quite a lot of the players weren’t particularly happy being away for a week to 10 days at a time. When you’ve got young children, as I have now, you miss them.
“These days, when I finish training, I know I will go home and see my children. Plus, sometimes you come back a bit tired from an international week and it affects your club form.
“I haven’t retired from international football, but my main aim is to help Carlisle. If they [Eire] were to call me up, it would be my decision whether I went or not.â€
Harte credits United’s player-coach Graham Kavanagh with making the initial move which brought his countryman to the club on a short-term basis in the spring, a phone call which eventually led to yesterday’s more substantial agreement.
He says: “At the time I was just focusing on getting myself ready for next season, but I get on well with Kav and he asked me if I fancied coming over and playing. I’m thankful I did. I really enjoyed my time here last season and there are a lot of good people in the club.
“People like [managing director] John Nixon, the gaffer, the players, the supporters – they are all passionate about Carlisle, they want the club to be successful and they have all made me feel welcome.
“It was disappointing where the team finished but if the gaffer can bring a bit more quality in, hopefully we can push on and get in the play-offs or even go further. I think we need a few players in certain positions, but it’s a difficult task for the manager because Carlisle just don’t have the same funds as the likes of Leeds. He can just do his best with what the club can afford.
“I just want to come in and do my bit. I’m a quiet lad – there are enough characters in the dressing room without adding another one. But hopefully with my experience I can help other players, especially in the back four.â€
Any upbeat day where Carlisle United are concerned must be grasped just now. Yesterday was such a day.
And there was no better way of ending the discussion than reminding Harte that the risk of another broken hand, such as he suffered on his United debut, has diminished with the relegation of Northampton and Adebayo Akinfenwa, the burly striker who inadvertently snapped a couple of the defender’s fingers in a typical League One collision.
“You’re not wrong,†he chuckles.
The smiles will be all ours if Harte can be on the money for United from August until next May.
newsandstar.co.uk
