Carlisle United's chief executive today insisted the club's hierarchy were not "taking their feet off the gas" in further talks with a mystery overseas "billionaire".

Nigel Clibbens refused to publicly set out a timetable for more "progress" with the individual whose apparent interest in investing in the club is 501 days old.

But Clibbens said that - having finally met the unnamed businessman and shown him around Brunton Park - he and his colleagues at United want to see things move on "quickly".

Speaking on BBC Radio Cumbria before the 2-0 win against Colchester, Clibbens said: "The interested party visited the club last week, looked round the stadium, and we had a full day of talks.

"We showed him the work that had been done post-flood, our plans for new offices in the east stand, and also visited the training ground.

"We had a good session, lots of good talking and most importantly at the end of that, agreed what we'd be going away to do next, which was really encouraging.

"Obviously there's no getting away from the fact we'd all like this process to have been quicker than it has been, but I can't do anything about that.

"We've got to deal with where we are now. It's good that we've had a visit, and been able to talk to each other face-to-face, and the interested party can see what the club's about and what we've been talking to him about over all these months."

Clibbens was asked to respond to the scepticism many fans have shown towards the 16-month saga, and whether there was now a further deadline for the "billionaire" to meet.

He said: "I'm not taking the foot off the gas. The position from that perspective hasn't changed.

"Whether the progress we've made is good enough for some, I can't control, but I can try and keep the momentum going.

"It's just more progress we're looking for.

"I recognise the process has gone on a long time, that's not ideal, I get that. As far as trust and belief in the process [is concerned], that's for us to generate and build with the fans.

"I'm not going to come here and put my head on the block and say things I don’t believe are true. It's not worth it. So questions of integrity I can deal with quite easily.

"But the key is we've got to make progress. We can demonstrate to the fans that things are happening."

While it was last July when United said they had furnished the mystery man with "all our financial information", Clibbens said updated details have now been given to the would-be investor.

He said: "The other stuff was a bit out of date, because it's taken so long.

"We've agreed what we're going to do next... [and are getting into] the nitty-gritty, what is normal in this process.

"We've moved on from the initial phase, which has taken a long time, and hopefully we're now at a different level in what we're doing.

"It would be foolish of me to outline a daily timetable and be faced with a ticking clock…but the pressure is on and we want to see movement quickly.

"That's what we're doing in the background. I'm not going to say anything that's going to compromise the deal."

It was not revealed by Clibbens whether the "genuine and firm" approach announced on May 19 last year, which apparently included plans to help fund to United for the next "three to five years", was discussed in particular, or whether the mystery businessman has tabled a fresh investment offer.

Nor was it discussed whether the belief that the individual was a "billionaire" - a view first aired by former vice-president Andy Bell and later reiterated by United's owners after questions from the News & Star - was felt to be valid.

And reasons for the long periods over the last 16 months when the would-be investor has not made contact with the club have not been disclosed.

Clibbens said the Carlisle United Official Supporters' Club are among the club figures continuing to endorse the current "steps", though it is understood CUOSC representatives were not involved in last week's meetings.

CUOSC have so far declined to comment.

The mystery man was not thought to be at Brunton Park for the 2-0 win which saw Keith Curle's team set a new club record for the longest unbeaten start to a Football League season.