Keith Curle has put three senior players on the transfer list at Carlisle United as he plans a further shake-up of his squad.

Defenders Mark Ellis and Shaun Brisley, plus midfielder Joe McKee, have been made available by the Blues boss.

The dramatic decision comes as the promotion-chasing manager tries to create further space on the wage bill for new signings.

Curle - whose team face Accrington Stanley today (Wham Stadium, 3pm) - said there had already been enquiries for some of the players, who could either leave on loan or permanently.

The News & Star understands Forest Green Rovers are among the clubs interested in centre-half Ellis, with at least two EFL clubs also thought to be monitoring the situation.

Yet offloading any of the trio could hinge on finances, with defenders Ellis and Brisley under contract until the end of next season.

Curle also said his decision could act as a "kick up the backside", suggesting their displays had not been up to scratch this term.

The manager said: "I have fully explained the reasons why they've been made available.

"Sometimes a club or team moves, or develops, and that can have a knock-on effect on players.

"Sometimes individual performances haven't helped the situation as well.

"What you're hoping for is either that the player identifies they're not going to get the playing time and they see the best move for them being an exit, or they understand the honesty of what [my] expectations are, and what hasn't been delivered, and they use it as a kick up the backside to producing the performances and form that led me to bring them to the club."

Curle admitted there has been interest in centre-half Ellis and said he would entertain permanent deals for any of the trio "if it was right for me, the player and the club."

Brisley and McKee only joined the Blues last summer, the latter on a one-year deal with an option to extend.

No moves, though, are likely to be sanctioned ahead of today's game, with Curle's squad depleted by injuries and also an international call-up for Reggie Lambe, who is with the Bermuda squad to face Canada.

It will see youth players Cameron Salkeld and Jordan Holt travel with the squad to Lancashire to face 17th-placed Stanley.

Curle is trying to bring in new faces, having offloaded four further players in the last eight days, but despite identifying several targets he has been unable to make any signings this week.

He hinted he was looking to bring in quality players rather than cheaper alternatives, and insisted there was money available.

But Curle added: "The same as everyone at the club who has the opportunity to bring revenue in, I need to be creative.

"I'm trying to bring in quality. Sometimes, because of my demands of the players I want to bring in, I have to forfeit something, and at a club of our size that's numbers.

"But I'd rather have quality rather than quantity."

Striker Jabo Ibehre is set to return today after illness. Loan keeper Marek Rodak could make his home debut for Accrington but Scott Brown is suspended.