Rob Elliot has dismissed claims Carlisle United are 'lazily' targeting players from his former club Gateshead, insisting recruits like Adam Desbois were personally signed by him during his time at Gateshead. Elliot highlighted that Desbois, Brad Nicholson, and Kenton Richardson-all linked to his previous club-were identified and signed by him, not by Gateshead. The midfielder joined Carlisle from Gateshead after Gabe Breeze’s move to Cambridge United, adding to the recurring connection between the clubs. Elliot stressed that recruitment decisions are based on player value, not previous affiliations. 'They’re players that I signed,' Elliot said. 'If they make us better, we’ll sign them.' The manager acknowledged fan concerns about the perceived pattern but emphasized that his role at Gateshead meant he had direct insight into the players' attributes. 'I did all the recruitment there,' he said. 'They were players I identified and signed.' Elliot also noted that while the optics might suggest a pattern, the focus remains on what benefits Carlisle. 'If we think it’s right, we’ll do it,' he said. 'The most important thing is we get the right person, the right player.'