Ward believes biggers squads can bring more problems

Carlisle United manager John Ward has given the strongest hint yet that he may not add to his first-team squad before the new season gets underway.

Ward has seen five players leave the club since the end of last season, bringing in three so far this summer.

"I'm happy enough with the squad I've got," Ward told BBC Radio Cumbria.

"I've got a list on my desk of loan targets and permanent targets if we need to do that. But I have to give those boys in the squad their chance."

Goalkeeper Ben Williams and defender Josh Gowling have both been brought into Brunton Park on free transfers this summer while striker Michael Bridges joined on a season-long loan deal from Hull City last week.

The bigger the squad you have, the more disgruntled players you have and the more problems it can actually give you Carlisle manager John Ward

Despite the squad being lower on numbers than last season's, the Cumbrians boss has indicated that he will not be rushing back into the transfer market.

"You never close the door on it," Ward said.

"I was at a managers' meeting yesterday, and they were saying the bigger the squad you have, the more disgruntled players you have and the more problems it can actually give you.

"We were all pretty much agreed that it is better to have a smaller squad of 23 or 24 players who are all capable of playing in the first-team."

Meanwhile, the Cumbrians have taken right-winger Ashley-Paul Robinson on a week's trial.

The 18-year-old made six substitute appearances for Crystal Palace before controversially parting company with the club this summer after revealing he was going on trial at Fulham on his social networking website.

Ward has also spoken of his relief that the speculation over Joe Garner's future has ended following the striker's �1.14m move to Nottingham Forest.

"There's been such a lot of speculation during the summer, now everything in terms of this group of players is settled," Ward said.

"If there's any more movement I can to make this squad better then I will do that. But I'm very happy with the group of players I've got."