Record-breaking Carlisle United boss Keith Curle and prolific midfielder Jason Kennedy are both in the running for top League Two awards.

Curle is on the shortlist to be named the division's manager of the month for October.

And free-scoring Kennedy is one of the contenders for the player of the month prize.

Their place on the respective shortlists comes after a flawless month of results by the promotion-chasing Blues.

Curle will be the strong favourite to take the SkyBet managerial prize after guiding United to five straight League Two wins in October.

If the 52-year-old is announced as the winner on Friday it will end a period of more than eight-and-a-half years since United last won a monthly managerial award.

The long wait since John Ward took the League One prize in March 2008 is the eighth longest of all 92 clubs.

Curle's rivals for the award are Derek Adams from leaders Plymouth, Cheltenham's Gary Johnson and Yeovil's Darren Way.

The judges' citation for Curle - the only October candidate with a 100 per cent record - says: "Not content with equalling a club record for unbeaten games to start the season, he inspired his side to claim sole possession of Carlisle history with five wins from five and 13 goals in a perfect month as they moved into second place."

Curle has since broken the all-time Blues record with their 15-game unbeaten league start.

Kennedy, meanwhile, will be a strong contender for the player-of-the-month prize after scoring five league goals in October.

The 30-year-old claimed a brace at Morecambe whilst also registering against Colchester, Stevenage and Crawley.

He has continued his red-hot form into November, scoring his eighth of the season at St Albans in Sunday's FA Cup tie.

That makes this already the most prolific season of the ex-Bradford man's career.

His rivals for the award are Barnet frontman John Akinde, Plymouth schemer Graham Carey and Cambridge goalkeeper Will Norris.

Kennedy's citation claims he is "in the goalscoring form of his life" with last month's highlight his overhead kick at Morecambe.

"Always a box-to- box midfielder, he has improved the timing of his runs into the area," the citation adds.

The judging panel comprises former Ipswich manager George Burley, Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman, EFL marketing director Drew Barrand, League Managers’ Association director Olaf Dixon and Sky Bet football trading manager Paul Lowery.

The winners will be announced at 6am on Friday.

*United's ticket office is now open from the Pioneer Foods Stand after the latest stage of post-flood rebuilding at Brunton Park.

Admin staff have also moved across the stadium to new offices in the stand following work by Story Contracting.

The former main ticket office in the west stand is now closed for weekday ticket sales, but will remain open on matchdays.

The new ticket office and main reception are on the first floor of the east stand.

Blues chief executive Nigel Clibbens said: “The impact of Storm Desmond is well-documented and the decision to move the day-to-day running of the club to first floor of the Pioneer Stand is a direct consequence of that.

“It’s a big change but a real step forward."