By Jon Colman

Last updated at 10:23, Sunday, 18 May 2008

DEVASTATED skipper Danny Livesey today insisted Carlisle United can turn their play-off heartbreak into a successful promotion challenge next season.

Hard to take: Skipper Danny Livesey wins the ball from Paul Huntington – but is shell-shocked by the Blues playoff defeat

The big centre-half admitted it will take him the whole summer to recover from the crushing blow of Thursday night’s defeat to Leeds which killed United’s Championship dream.

But Livesey, 23, pledged to return after the summer break and help drive the Blues to success next time around.

“We have got the nucleus of a great squad here and we need to keep that together,” said Livesey.

“We need to add players – maybe a bit more experience, maybe a bit more quality – and kick on. The whole club has evolved since I’ve been here. We missed out on the play-offs last season, we got in them this time, so maybe next year it will be promotion.”

Livesey played in all but one of United’s games this season and the former Bolton man – who was named in League One’s team of the year – will be one of the men around whom boss John Ward seeks to build a promotion-winning team next term.

On Thursday’s injury-time semi-final defeat, he said: “I’m devastated. It will take a couple of days to get over – maybe the whole summer.

“It hasn’t really sunk in. I’m absolutely gutted for the lads and the club as a whole.

“I thought they’ve been brilliant all season and we don’t deserve for it to end like this.

“But Leeds came and did their job, and they’re a good side.

“We just need to come back, regroup and kick on for next season. We’ve got to use this heartbreak for next season and make sure we are back in the same position but we grab the chance, instead of squandering it like we did this year.

“We left ourselves a mountain to climb in the end and beating Leeds over two legs would have been a massive effort.”

Livesey added: “I’ll have a good break, come back, regroup and be ready for the challenge next year.

“I couldn’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed this season, although it means very little right now.”

First published at 09:15, Saturday, 17 May 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk