Carlisle United's owners say they plan to convert some of their loans to the club into shares by next summer.

Co-owner John Nixon says the result of the Blues' financial support from Edinburgh Woollen Mill means he and chairman Andrew Jenkins will reduce the debt they are owed by United.

Fellow director Lord Clark also intends to convert his loan to shares, Nixon said.

Nixon said it meant the club's overall debt would not increase despite the recent EWM loan.

Speaking on a fans' forum on BBC Radio Cumbria last night, Nixon said: "The [EWM] loan will be offset, I hope, by the end of June.

"Some of the directors' loans will have been converted from debt to equity.

"So Andrew is converting some, I'm converting my loan from debt to equity and Lord Clark I think is going to do the same.

"So the balance sheet is going to look somewhat similar at June 30 as it did at June 30 in the last financial year. The facility of debt in the club should look the same."

United's last accounts for 2015/16 showed Nixon was owed £20,000 by United and Lord Clark £10,000.

Jenkins, meanwhile, was owed £980,000 and his firm Pioneer £680,750.

Nixon added: "Andrew always said for anybody putting £1 he will knock £1 of his debt off. So for every £1 that comes in from EWM, we've taken that out of the debt and converted it to equity."

Pressed by a supporter, both chief executive Nigel Clibbens and fans' representative Jim Mitchell insisted current discussions over United's shareholding would not affect the Carlisle United Official Supporters' Club's stake in the Blues.

That came after Clibbens, in his initial answer, attempted to stress that CUOSC's status in the club would not be put at risk.

Asked for a "one-word answer" by the caller on whether CUOSC's stake would be under threat, Mitchell said: "No." Clibbens said: "Not as I see it."

On the EWM "loan facility" which was made available to United in March, Nixon said: "They have been very supportive and they are going to support us in the future.

"We are very grateful to them. The fact they are building a new headquarters in Carlisle makes them even more local and the tie-up with them bodes well for the future.

"They give us sustainability and stabilty."

Nixon, meanwhile, appeared to voice confidence in Keith Curle when asked by one caller if the manager had "taken us as far as he can".

"We've never had that discussion," Nixon said, adding that while United would prefer and expect to be higher in the league based on what they have spent, an influx of new players can "take time to blend".

It was said United's budget is in the "top eight to 10" in League Two.

Nixon arrived after the start of the forum in the BBC studio as it was claimed he was held up by an "urgent medical issue".

Fans also quizzed the three directors on issues such as the sale of Charlie Wyke, recruitment, the current owners' near-10-year tenure, the Checkatrade Trophy vote and the reopening of discussions about United's long-term stadium ideas.

Clibbens, meanwhile, said a "few months" remain in the legal agreements which prevent the club from naming the potential overseas investor whose 650-day interest in the Blues was ended in February.

Nixon was challenged on the value of his "director of external affairs" role at Brunton Park.

The co-owner said his range of EFL and Football Association positions were "good for the club and the club's profile".