Put your ear to the ground and it looks as if that's another rumour old Ferret can knock into the long grass – or at least for the next six weeks. If not more.
For as everyone immediately installed City No2 Lee Clark as the favourite to succeed John Ward as the next manager of Carlisle, it was all-too easy to over-look the thoughts of the man charged with installing the next boss of Burnden – Carlisle's chief exec, David Allen.
He, it appears, was prepared to give Ward's No2 Greg Abbott every chance to claim the role for himself after impressing in a care-taker spell last season.
Not that anyone should rule out Clark's interest.
He's long made it clear that his next ambition is to be his own No1; the fact that Carlisle is right under Newcastle's nose would – inevitably – ensure Clark's interest.
But for now, however, it looks as if he's going to have to bide his time; see how events pan out – both back in his native North-East and closer to his new home in Norfolk.
Abbott is the man in the box seat – unless Allen is telling all manner of porkies to his local paper.
“We have to give Greg a fair crack at it,” he told the News & Star tonight.
“We haven't agreed an exact timescale, but we have got to be looking at until the January transfer window has been and gone to see who he brings in and who he moves out.”
If that's the case, then that's nearer three months – a life-time in football.
Allen certainly appears intent on giving Abbott every chance.
“We will be doing what we believe is right and that is to give Greg an opportunity,” said the Carlisle chief, refusing to lay too much blame on their sorry recent run of form on the No2, now the caretaker No1.
“Greg has a lot of strengths that have never come out � as an assistant there are lots of things you can't do. He has got something to offer; he's charismatic; he's got a great rapport with the players and has got good ideas.”
Which all but rules out Clarkie disappearing overnight. He'll just have to bide his time and watch with interest.
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