Carlisle United manager Greg Abbott has rejected rumours linking his club with departing Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper.
The 38-year old will leave St James' Park this summer after 20 years with the Toon and has been linked with a move to the League One Cumbrians.
But Abbott says he would not ask an experienced player like Harper to come and sit on the bench behind Carlisle number one Mark Gillespie.
"I think Steve Harper would be horrified if I said he was going to play second-fiddle to Mark Gillespie and spend another two years on the bench," he told the News & Star.
"If he is going to carry on playing, he will want to play, especially at a League One club. He has been a decent player and a top guy."
