After Carlisle United's manager hunt lurched into the surreal - with the son of a candidate never in the running tweeting that his dad had got the job - today was directors' chance to restore some order to the debate, to offer reassurance about this long process.

In the case of Russell Slade, whose apparent coronation was let slip by his son on social media, that was dealt with swiftly. The ex-Grimsby boss had never been spoken to or discussed, chief executive Nigel Clibbens said.

That was a brief, bizarre problem not of the club's making. The public response, before the claim had been shot down, suggested, though, at a growing scepticism about how the Blues are handling the process of replacing Keith Curle.

At a directors' press conference, Clibbens did his best to present the alternative, official case - that the process is "thorough and professional", not "shambolic", as some fans are saying.

The chief executive declined to comment on David Hopkin's recent candidacy, saying it was policy not to discuss individual names - and what responsible employer, he asked, would divulge such information? - though he conceded the Slade fake news was a different, more unusual matter, coming as it did from a family member. He also admitted that Neil McDonald had been "considered", but was not drawn on the idea it may have been anything more.

With one contender - which we can take to be former Livingston boss Hopkin - Clibbens said a "conclusion" was reached last weekend. "We've all decided to move on from that one, and we're continuing with the other [candidates]."

On that basis, the Hopkin chances are dead. Had the "goalposts been moved" at an advanced stage of talks, as speculation would have it, leading the Scot to turn away from United?

"I've seen that speculation," Clibbens said. "We're not going to get into 'he said, she said', especially from third parties. There's nothing come out from any of the individuals we've been talking to. They are respecting us and we're respecting them. It doesn't mean everything fans read all over the place is true."

Was a formal offer made? "We got to the point we have been with a number of candidates. We were getting into the detail of how they would go about their job. We never reached a point where everybody was totally happy with where we were."

McDonald was also the subject of intense speculation, before his assistant manager move to Swindon. Was he ever firmly in the running?

Clibbens began by saying there had been lots of speculation about McDonald ever since his late-season appearances in the directors' box. Claims his appointment was a fait accompli, and that the interview process was a "sham", were proven to be incorrect, Clibbens said.

But was he a contender regardless? "He's a person that was considered but, beyond that, that's it."

What about surprising reports linking David Holdsworth, the former Gretna player whose last managerial job was with Goole Town, with a general manager position?

Co-owner John Nixon addressed this one. Again, no comment on individuals, but he said that, as well as the list of applicants, directors have "asked other people outside Carlisle United to help us in that quest, so the board have the widest possible list they can. I'm surprised certain names are coming out."

Whether this referred to Holdsworth, nobody would specify. The manager appointment was the "immediate issue" and any thought of wider roles would be "way, way, way down the line". "Beyond that, it hasn't been discussed", Clibbens added.

Meaning Holdsworth himself, or the general manager idea? "Both. We're focusing on the manager."

Details, until an appointment is made, are clearly not going to be too forthcoming. When asked whether the club still wanted a manager who would not be described as someone off the "merry-go-round" - something Clibbens has stated before - the chief executive reiterated this, "absolutely".

All these goings-on have occurred to a backdrop of supporter anxiety. Some are yet to decide on buying season-tickets, with current sales at 1,501, compared to 1,880 at the end of last season's early-buy period (United have extended the deadline until next Friday). A few have even threatened to cancel theirs. There is a new Facebook group against the owners and much of the debate, and apparent leaks from the manager process, have led some to believe it is a mess.

How can people be reassured?

"It's very difficult for us to be held to account for things that haven't happened," Clibbens said. "On the journey from speculation to rumour, to people getting upset, and then it not happening, criticism flows our way.

"Most of the stuff coming my way [from fans] is, 'Nigel, if you do this, then this is what I think'. There are ifs, buts and maybes all over. But these things are not happening.

"Names are being thrown about on social media and that can be unsettling. All we can do is continue to do the right things - a thorough process, communicate the facts to fans as best we can, and explain why things are happening. If we deal with every single rumour, you can't get anything done.

"I do understand a change of manager unsettles people. I look forward to us one day being given the benefit of the doubt, rather than presuming we're guilty based on speculation.

"It's very difficult, but we're optimistic that when we get the right man in, he will take the fans with us, and we can all move forward to exciting times. It's about reinvigorating. Until then, it's a bit of choppy waters."

Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Clibbens added, were "interested" in the process but did not have "influence" over it. The holdings board directors would make the appointment, also with Clibbens' input.

He said, above all, that some "excellent candidates" were still in the fray. When, then, could we expect some white smoke?

"I'm not giving a timescale. We intend to get on with this as soon as possible. I know it needs to be sorted very, very quickly. We're pulling out the stops to do that."