Keith Curle insists he will not go to war with his Carlisle United paymasters over his January spending power.

The manager wants to be "proactive" in the transfer window in order to consolidate United's promotion push in League Two.

But while Curle says he will be pushing for as much cash as possible, he will not fight battles with the Blues board.

Asked if he felt United's status at the top of the table gave him more ammunition to ask for extra funds, Curle said: "Yes, but in a roundabout way.

"I'm not a demanding character when it comes to managing upwards, because it doesn’t work. I've been that soldier before.

"But I'm very good at arguing my case, and saying a foundation and a platform has been put in place, and in my opinion, we need help to achieve our shared goal.

"That’s all we're trying to do - safeguard against all eventualities, because we don't know what the season can hold.

"You try and make sure you're strong and united as a football department, and we take that into the boardroom as and when I have the meeting with the powers-that-be."

Curle last week revealed that assistant Lee Dykes was drawing up a dossier of potential targets.

But the United boss did not then know exactly how much he would have to spend when the window opens.

Curle has also raised the possibility of interest in some of his star players next month.

He has named Charlie Wyke, Mark Gillespie and Tom Miller as players likely to be in the sights of other clubs.

Wyke is in the form of his career having scored 12 goals this season and seven in November alone.

But Curle does not believe the frontman would automatically leave the Blues if a bid came on.

"We don't hide away from it, if somebody comes in and says 'We like Charlie, what's your valuation?'

"But just because somebody comes in and offers Charlie an opportunity to go and play, does that mean the lad will necessarily go? I don’t think it will do.

"Charlie's learning, developing and enjoying it. That’s the important thing. You can go away and get hidden in someone else's squad, not get the game time, and not be playing or scoring goals.

"Is that progression? No, I don’t think so."