Paul David Simpson (born 26 July 1966) is an English former professional footballer who was most recently manager of EFL League Two side Carlisle United.

[citation needed] He returned during the final stages of 1984–85 campaign and enjoyed a run of games as he scored 6 times in just 10 appearances as City won promotion from the Second Division.

[citation needed] The winger joined Derby in the midst of a promotion challenge but, despite finishing third, they lost in the play-offs to sixth-placed Blackburn Rovers.

[citation needed] After a second successive seventh-place finish in a season that saw Simpson feature only sparingly, he signed for Blackpool on a free transfer in August 2000.

[citation needed] Following his departure from Rochdale, Simpson moved back to his home town, where he signed as a player for Carlisle United.

[citation needed] A transfer embargo prevented new players being brought in and by December 2003 Carlisle were 15 points adrift, and despite an improved latter half of the season, the club were eventually relegated.

[citation needed] Simpson played his final game as a professional player on 6 May 2006 at Edgeley Park against Stockport County, the club he later managed, on a day where the two teams drew 0–0, meaning that Carlisle were promoted as champions.

[citation needed] In June 2006, following his success at Carlisle, Simpson left the club to replace Billy Davies as manager of Preston North End, where he led the Lancashire side to the top of the Championship by December, their highest league placing for 55 years.

[citation needed] However, after only being able to bring 3 free transfers in January they were unable to maintain this position and missed out on the play-offs by goal difference despite beating already promoted Birmingham on the last day.

[citation needed] After losing key player David Nugent, the team made a bad start to the 2007–08 season (including just three victories) resulting in Simpson being sacked on 13 November 2007.

[12] In the following campaign after an overall decent first half of the season, Shrewsbury were dealt six straight defeats in March and April, ultimately costing them a place in the play-offs.

[15][16] Simpson was charged with the task of staying in the division and rebuilding a squad which has been ravaged by administration, and ensuring the survival of the club in League Two in the coming season.

[citation needed] This was, however, brought forward to March, meaning Simpson left following the club's FA Trophy quarter-final match on 25 February.

Simpson was sacked at the start of July, on the eve of pre season training under the newly appointed head coach, Paul Clement.

[22] Simpson took charge of the England Under 20 Squad in 2017 and won the U20 World Cup in Suwon, South Korea on 11 June 2017, beating Venezuela by the only goal of the game.

In similar circumstances to his first spell with the club, the Cumbrian side found themselves in the League Two relegation zone in 23rd position at the time of his appointment.

[28] After a win against Bradford City in the semi-final, Carlisle won the 2023 play-off final at Wembley, defeating Stockport County on penalties.