Carlisle United say they are "very confident" their Brunton Park pitch will be ready for the new season - after the rigours of tonight's Rod Stewart gig.

The Blues will immediately start the task of preparing a new surface for Keith Curle's team after Sir Rod has left town.

United say their groundstaff will be ready to start work straight away - and do not expect any problems with having the new pitch ready in time for the big League Two kick-off.

The club will have a month and 16 days to grow their new pitch and have it playable for the August 6 curtain-raiser, with the club set to learn tomorrow whether they will start the 2016/17 season with a home fixture.

Blues spokesman Andy Hall said plans were drawn up "months ago" by head groundsman David Mitchell that would enable United to have their pitch ready after the Stewart gig.

That will see, once the huge concert equipment has all been removed, the surface aerated and sanded before it is seeded.

That process is expected to take a week, and United hope the new pitch surface will be ready for work by mid-July.

It will not be playable by that stage, but Hall said: "Then we can start to work on it with a view to that first game of the season.

"Barring some absolutely horrible weather over the coming weeks, it is something we are very confident about."

United have insisted, though, that the impact of the Stewart gig on their summer schedule is not the reason why they have arranged no home friendlies before the new campaign.

"It is true that it gave us something to consider, but pre-season planning has been in place with various things in mind and it's not the case that having Rod Stewart here has written off any home games before the season," Hall added.

United's squad, including six new signings, will return for training on Thursday, while the club are yet to confirm whether Tom Miller and Alex McQueen will be back at Brunton Park this week.

Carlisle have said there is no panic over the defenders, who have been offered new contracts, at a time when they have been on holiday.

But manager Curle will be keen to resolve both situations soon as he starts to step up preparations for the new season.

United are soon expected to end their search for a new academy manager, with the position having been vacant since the departure of Alan Moore in April.

The club's youth players start training next Monday.

Released Blues midfielder Bastien Hery yesterday joined their League Two rivals Accrington Stanley on a one-year contract.

Today, meanwhile, marks 400 days since United's apparent approach by an overseas "billionaire" with still no deal in sight.