Chairman Andrew Jenkins has loaned Carlisle United more money to help Keith Curle in the transfer window, the manager has revealed.

The co-owner helped fund the signing of Gary Liddle last week at a time when the Blues boss is trying to reshuffle his squad.

Curle said he did not want to put extra pressure on 80-year-old Jenkins to keep paying for new signings, insisting United wanted to balance their books when it came to the playing budget.

But amid his January overhaul of the squad the United boss said: "The chairman's had to put some money in, because of the timings of the deals.

"Russell Penn and David Atkinson have gone...but for us to get Gary Liddle in when we did, we needed to [cover a] shortfall.

"It's not a nice conversation to knock on the door and say, 'Chairman, I need more money because this player can bring value to us,' but it's a conversation I need to have."

Curle said he appreciated Jenkins's support. "The chairman has been absolutely fantastic, he has backed me every time I have knocked on his door," he added.

"But I've got to know where that limit is as well. It's not a bottomless pit.

"Part of my job is to make sure the chairman hasn't got to put money in - that is everyone's job to make sure that, as a business, the club is able to run smoothly."

Jenkins' personal debt to United was £980,000 in their accounts for 2014/15 with his firm Pioneer owed a further £800,750.

Fellow owner John Nixon told a fans' forum in August that United were hoping to reduce their debt this season by about £150,000.

The Blues have still not filed their 2015/6 accounts and have until March 31 to do so. Meanwhile, it is understood a further meeting has been arranged to discuss the overseas investment saga which is now 613 days old. United's hierarchy have not responded to the News & Star's request for an update on talks.

Curle insisted third-placed United were "massively overachieving" in League Two based on their budget.

He expects a bumper travelling crowd to make its mark at Accrington today, with more than 1,500 Blues fans expected.

The manager said: "I've still got the memory of the partisan crowd we had when we went there before. We have to make sure we put in a performance they are proud of and we are proud of.

"It will be like a home fixture for ourselves.

"Accrington will be like a wounded animal on the back of their last performance. John Coleman said it was one of the worst performances since he's been in the club. He'll be looking for a massive reaction and using this game as a challenge to his players to stand up and be counted.

"Our lads have been a credit. Very disappointed at the recent back-to-back defeats but we're creating a positive environment whereby we strive for excellence.

"Some things haven't gone our way whilst earlier in the season everything was bouncing our way. We know that will turn. But we don't just wait - we earn that through hard work and good decision-making."