By Jon Colman

Last updated 09:18, Friday, 10 October 2008

CARLISLE United’s complaints over the rising cost of policing matches at Brunton Park has been met with a swift response from Cumbria Constabulary.

Honour: Peter McConnell

The Blues yesterday claimed they are seeking talks with the Football League and city MP Eric Martlew after being charged more than £25,000 for the policing of last month’s home clash with Leeds.

“The figures now involved for policing matches at this level are the sort that will put clubs out of business,” said United’s managing director John Nixon.

But the Cumbria force today insisted the costs were “reasonable” and were based on national guidelines after a recent court ruling on policing matches.

Chief Superintendent Andy Davidson, North Area Commander, said: “In a recent court case a ruling confirmed that the police can charge for their services relating to officers who patrol in and around the ground.

“This charge does not, however, reflect in any way the full costs of policing operations related to Carlisle United matches.

“In reality, the policing of the most recent Leeds United game involved the deployment of nearly 150 officers. Charging under national guidelines allowed the constabulary to recover costs associated with half of those officers and for only six hours of their time. The guidance relates to reasonable cost, all of which were fully discussed with club representatives during the closed season.

“The Constabulary does not recover the full costs relating to policing operations of any match. As such any difference between what the club pays, and the full policing costs, is made up from the Constabulary budget which in part includes local tax payers’ contributions.”

Mr Davidson added that the club is not charged for policing resources operating away from the ground, to cover city centre incidents such as the trouble which followed last November’s visit of Leeds which led to 21 “football-related” arrests.

UNITED are to name a new bar at Brunton Park after Peter McConnell, one of the greatest captains in the club’s history.

The former wing half, now 71, made 306 appearances for the Blues from 1962 to 1969 and led them to back-to-back promotions.

His name is now being given to a third bar which will be opened beneath the Cumberland Building Society stand, joining existing bars in the stand names after Chris Balderstone and Allan Ross.

McConnell’s autobiography, Nice One Skip written in conjunction with Blues media officer Andy Hall, is out later this month.

CARLISLE’S youth team will bid to extend their three-game winning sequence at Morecambe tomorrow (kick-off 11am).