Ian Harte believes Rob Elliot is trying to play 'the right way' at Brunton Park. The former Carlisle United defender has backed the current manager's attacking philosophy while acknowledging the increased difficulty of winning promotion from the National League.

Harte, who made 67 appearances and scored 19 goals from centre-half for the Blues between 2009 and 2010, spoke about the club's current situation. He played in the 2010 Johnstone's Paint Trophy final under manager Greg Abbott and assistant Graham Kavanagh, and he looks back on his time in Cumbria with great fondness.

"Rob Elliot is a really good guy and a good manager," Harte said. "He wants his teams to play football the right way, so hopefully Carlisle can get promoted." The 49-year-old, who also played for Leeds United and the Republic of Ireland, stressed the need for a solid defensive base but noted that goals from attacking players are what ultimately move a team up the table.

His comments come as Carlisle sit 15th in the National League with 10 points from their first eight games. Their recent form reads one win, three draws and one defeat from the last five, a sequence that includes a 1-1 draw with Forest Green last time out.

Harte pointed to the rising financial power within the division as a key challenge. "It is a hugely competitive league now," he said. "You have clubs such as Hartlepool and Boreham Wood with investment and backing, so getting promoted is becoming more and more difficult." He cited the recent £1.5 million transfer of Boreham Wood's Abdul Abdulmalik to Swedish side Djurgårdens as evidence of a changed landscape, a fee he said would have been unthinkable for a National League player a decade ago.

Despite the tougher environment, Harte retains faith in Carlisle's ability to develop talent and succeed. He noted the club's history of producing top players like Adam Clayton, Richard Keogh, James Chester, and more recently James Trafford. He hopes the club can soon make it back into the EFL.

Elliot's side, who have scored 16 goals but conceded 13 this season, face a key test in their next match away at Eastleigh this weekend. The Blues are currently one point and one place behind their 14th-placed opponents. Check the latest standings to see how the table shapes up. Carlisle's immediate focus is on securing a positive result at the Silverlake Stadium to build momentum.

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