Carlisle United have signed Bradford City goalkeeper Harry Lewis.
Officially both clubs will stick to the tried and tested “undisclosed fee” but it has been reported that Carlisle paid £175,000.
If that is correct it will be a clear indication of the new ambition and determination of new owners Castle Sports Group under the Piatak family.
Lewis, who learnt his trade at hometown club Shrewsbury and then Southampton, is regarded as one of the best keepers in the lower divisions and Bradford City would have been unlikely to part without a substantial offer.
His late grandfather Ken Mulhearn, who died in 2018 aged 72, played over 600 league games as a goalkeeper for Stockport (100), Manchester City (50), Shrewsbury (370) and Crewe (88).
Lewis has signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Carlisle and will make his debut in Saturday’s home game with Oxford United.
He was linked with a move to Barnsley in the summer but it fell through.
The deal between United and Bradford only went through when City had set up a replacement signing.
Sam Walker, 32, a 6ft 6ins keeper who started his youth career with Millwall and Chelsea has agreed an 18-month deal at Valley Parade.
He is in line to make his City debut at the week-end against one of his former clubs Colchester United.
In seven years with the U’s he made over 200 senior appearances.
Walker was a member of the Chelsea side which won the FA Youth Cup in 2010 and had loan spells with Barnet, Northampton Town, Yeovil Town and Bristol Rovers before linking up with Colchester.
Later spells followed at Reading and then Kilmarnock where he played 28 times last season in the SPL. More recently he had a short term deal at Charlton.
