NEARLY 1,700 Carlisle United fans are set to get the chance to quiz the people behind a £2 million investment proposal which has apparently been rejected by the club.

The Carlisle United Official Supporters’ Club are to hold a meeting to which all their members will be invited.

It will see CUOSC leaders and the two businessmen fronting the proposal – Robin Brown, Jim Mitchell, Norman Steel and Graham Mossop – discuss the idea in detail.

Those behind the proposed plan have insisted their offer remains in place in case Carlisle United’s owners have a “change of heart”.

CUOSC’s membership soared from 320 to nearly 1,700 when season-ticket holders were automatically co-opted in the summer.

The move significantly increased the number of fans who can have a direct say in the affairs of the group that owns 25.4 per cent of United’s holding company.

CUOSC emailed members to inform them of the “rejection” of their proposal by Carlisle’s owners, while The Cumberland News yesterday revealed details of the plan.

It is based on attracting £1.5m investment from 12 to 15 local business people with CUOSC intending to raise £500,000.

In a statement CUOSC described the bid’s rejection by United as “particularly disappointing”.

They also confirmed that they had earlier themselves turned down the club’s own investment proposals which were understood to involve smaller, six-figure sums.

“The CUOSC board felt that those ideas did not go far enough towards achieving the required long-term financial security and stability from the club,” the statement said.

A date and venue for the members’ meeting has yet to be confirmed.

A Blues spokesman said yesterday that the club “would like CUOSC to work with us” regarding investment opportunities.

United’s owners have been invited to comment further by the News & Star.

Manager Keith Curle was yesterday awaiting news on a loan approach for a young Premier League player.