Carlisle icon Kevin Gray has advised his former defensive partner Peter Murphy to put his name on a new one-year deal at the club. Brunton Park legend Murphy, aged 30, is currently mulling over whether to sign the new contract or seek a two-year deal elsewhere. Gray, now aged 39, hung-up his boots three years ago after being released by the Cumbrians and hopes that his former colleague can see out his career at the club too. He said: âMurph has been there a long, long time and he is very important to the club. âItâs really good for him that he has been able to settle in one place for so long and that the club appreciate what he has done. âI played alongside him for a number of games and he is a good player and a good leader on the pitch. Itâs a show of the clubâs loyalty to him that they have offered him a new contract. âI would like to see him stay at Carlisle for his sake as well as the clubâs, but at the end of the day that decision is up to him and the manager. âYou can understand him wanting more security than a one-year contract because he has a few more years left in the game but wonât want to start moving around the country now. âBut if he makes a great start to the season and pins down a regular starting place, it can always be renegotiated as the season progresses. âIf he stays for a year, I canât see any reason why he canât prove to Greg that he should have longer than that.â Dubliner Murphy recorded his 400th appearance for Carlisle last season. Gray would now like to see him close-in on Allan Rossâ all-time appearance record for the club of 542 games.
