Carlisle chief backs boss Abbott

Abbott is facing calls for his dismissal from some supporters

Carlisle United chief executive David Allen says he still "has belief" in under-fire manager Greg Abbott.

The relegation-threatened Cumbrians slipped down to 19th in League One following Tuesday's 2-1 home defeat by fellow strugglers Hereford.

"I know things aren't perfect at all and there's a lot to do," Allen told BBC Radio Cumbria.

"We've just all got to get behind Greg. We're in a relegation battle and our job is to make sure we don't go down."

Hereford ended a run of five defeats as goals from Steve Guinan and Ben Smith saw Carlisle drop deeper into the relegation battle.

All we have tried to do is do what's right and try our best

Carlisle Chief Executive David Allen

The Cumbrians have now won only once in their last nine games and have failed to record a win at Brunton Park in their last seven.

"We're well aware of where we're at and what we need to do." added Allen.

"I know there's been a little bit of criticism for ourselves and for Greg. But there's no complacency at all, we know we're in a battle and we'll be battling."

Allen, who is part of a four-man team of owners at Brunton Park, has admitted that the team's current predicament has taken him by surprise.

"We didn't see this coming, we expected something better and we really want to be looking for something better," he told BBC Radio Cumbria's Matchnight programme.

"There probably are things we could have done better. All we have tried to do is do what's right and try our best."

The Cumbrians' current plight comes just 12 months after being on the verge of promotion to the Championship.

However, a late season collapse saw the club miss out on automatic promotion before going on to lose to Leeds over two legs in the play-offs.

Manager John Ward was dismissed in October after a run of nine defeats in 10 league games after which Abbott was handed the role on an 18-month contract.

Allen said: "Obviously there is no one solution. Lots of people have their opinions.

"We've certainly got some very good players who aren't playing well together and playing their best.

"The main thing is to get to the bottom of that."