Ex-Files: Carlo Nash
Carlo Nash began his career at his home town club, non-league Clitheroe before joining Crystal Palace in 1996. Nash spent two years at Selhurst Park where he was largely used as back up in his first season before breaking into the first team. As a result he only made a total of 21 appearances and was transferred to Stockport Country where he became the number one. It was at Stockport where he has made the most appearances at any one club, 89 in total.
Whilst at Stockport where he attracted the attention of Manchester City and made his big move to Maine Road in 2001 featuring in big games such as the Manchester derby. Unlike his spell at Stockport, Nash was predominantly used as backup as players such as Peter Schmeichel and Nicky Weaver graced the dressing room of Manchester City leaving Nash with a battle for that number one jersey. Nash spent two years at City before being transferred to Teeside where he again, was used as a reserve goal keeper for Middlesbrough, this time playing second fiddle to Australian international, Mark Schwarzer.
In January 2005, due to a goalkeeping crisis at Deepdale, Billy Davies brought Nash to Preston where he became first choice between the sticks, the first time since his Stockport County days. That season, Preston were gunning for promotion and where hopeful of going up via the play-offs. Nash and his Preston teammates narrowly missed out on promotion after a defeat in the play-off final to West Ham, the club they had beaten both home and away that same season. The following season Nash became a record breaker where he kept a club record of 24 clean sheets and as a result conceded fewer goals than champions Reading. Despite this, Preston stumbled once again in the play-offs after crashing out against Leeds United in the Semi Finals.
Despite the aforementioned two consecutive seasons in the play offs, Nash publically questioned Preston's ambition and felt that it didn't match his own. These comments angered many of the Preston fans and expected to see the Clitheroe born stopper depart Deepdale not before long. However he seemed to clear the air with, then new manager, Paul Simpson and continued as first choice goalkeeper until January where things once again turned sour. Nash allegedly tried to engineer a move from Preston with Fulham reportedly interested in his services, citing that a move down south would bring him closer to his London based wife Jill. Chairman Derek Shaw deemed the offer of £500,000 from Fulham as not a good enough and said it would be difficult to replace Nash on that budget. As a result, Nash stayed at Deepdale and became 4th choice after the signing of Republic of Ireland international Wayne Henderson and youngster Chris Neal having his contract extended.
In February 2007, Nash joined Premiership Wigan on an emergency loan due to having their own goalkeeper crisis. Nash never appeared for Wigan during his loan spell but did make his move permanent in the summer after a fee of £300,000 was agreed between the two clubs.
Having still not featured for Wigan, Nash fell even further down the pecking order at Wigan following the return to fitness of Chris Kirkland. To make matters worse, Nash broke his leg leaving him out of action and out of new manager Steve Bruce's plans. After his return to full fitness, Nash made a loan move to Championship Stoke City and was immediately added to the starting eleven for the promotion candidates. With Stoke's promotion to the premiership seemingly inevitable, Nash is widely expected to make his move to the Britannia a permanent one which would give him the Premiership football he has longed for since leaving Manchester City.
Nash was involved in Stoke's 1-0 win against Colchester at Layer Road this Saturday and is expected to continue in goal against Leicester on the final day.