Brexit affecting Carlisle Utd sponsorship - claim

A recent meeting of the Blues' supporters groups was told that the uncertainty surrounding Britain's departure from the European Union was affecting United's potential income.

The claim was made by businessman Kevin Dobinson and recorded in CUSG's latest minutes.

Dobinson, of Carlisle Scaffolding and someone close to United's billionaire backer Philip Day, is helping the Blues' commercial department on a voluntary basis.

"Kevin," the newly-released minutes say, "said uncertainty about Brexit was causing some businesses to put off committing to sponsorship."

Dobinson also said "ownership issues" at United were a factor in this respect too.

The meeting also saw United decline to reveal their current level of debt to Day's Edinburgh Woollen Mill firm, who have been loaning the club money since March 2017.

"The club does not disclose those amounts for any individual or business we deal with," the minutes say. "That applies no matter who the business is – including EWM. That is no different to other football clubs or businesses."

The fan groups were told that United's owners "remain willing to consider offers in whatever form interested parties wish to submit" regarding potential takeover.

"Any interested parties are free to contact the club. Owners do not want to take any money out of the club."

The club and supporter groups fielded questions on a range of topics, many posed by users of thecumbrians.net forum, who were represented at the CUSG meeting.

United's supporters trust CUOSC were asked if they would challenge EWM to "show their hand" regarding their intentions for the club.

CUOSC's Jim Mitchell, who is a director on United's 1921 operational board said "it would be helpful to fans and the club if EWM made their future intentions [if they have any] clear".

He also said that "it feels like the club is in limbo" and that the current situation of uncertainty could potentially be working against the prospect of incoming investment and ownership change.

CUOSC chair John Kukuc, though, added that he felt EWM had "already shown their hand with their continued financial backing".

Also regarding ownership, it was asked why co-owner Steven Pattison "doesn't put any money into the club."

This question was not answered, though, as Pattison was not at the CUSG meeting.

Similarly, a question which claimed director of football David Holdsworth "blamed [former manager] Keith Curle for previous player contracts" was not answered as Holdsworth was not present at the meeting.

One area on which the club updated, meanwhile, was the iFollow live-streaming service, which has been the topic of controversial debate with some Saturday games having been available to UK-based viewers for the first time this season.

Despite live streaming having been on offer since August, United said they still did not have full geographic analysis of where their viewing fans were based. "This data would come later from the EFL."

Live-streaming had ended for the time being, the club added, also saying the EFL are in talks with clubs about their views, specifically about Saturday 3pm games, midweek night games and Bank Holiday fixtures.

Asked about the progress of talks regarding a new stadium, United told the November 5 meeting that discussions with a local landowner had proved a "non-starter". Discussions with the city council regarding the club's stadium plans were "ongoing".

Neither United nor CUOSC were willing to post on thecumbrians.net messageboard, the meeting heard, having done so before yet found it "not conducive to constructive debate."

"CUOSC has a policy of not communicating with anonymous individuals," it was also said.

Regarding the decision to produce a smaller, fold-out matchday programme this season, the meeting was told that had "fixed the problem" of the previous version failing to cover production costs. Sales were the same as last season, while digital revenues were up.

United were challenged on what one fan described as an approach of "austerity" regarding budgets which was "tinkering with relegation".

The reply from club bosses was that other clubs' budgets relative to United's are not known and so this was "all guesswork".

Replying to a question on why United don't bring away supporter travel in-house, the club said they had never been approached to do this.

"[The club] consider that CUSAT do the away travel very well," United said, adding that it was not a money-making exercise.

CUOSC, meanwhile, were challenged about their statement earlier in the year claiming they wanted a "young, ambitious manager" and highlighted home form as something that neede to improve.

This was asked in light of the appointment of the experienced Sheridan and the recent poor home form.

In response, CUOSC "agreed a young ambitious manager was the preferred choice of the fans and CUOSC" but they had not ended with the "complete opposite, as John Sheridan is ambitious".

CUOSC added that their holdings board representative Billy Atkinson had a vote in the selection panel choosing the new manager, but his choice was confidential.

"Unfortunately CUFC’s home form was very poor for over a year and a half under Keith Curle," they added.

"Billy has never said the home form would improve under a new manager.

"Poorer home form = lower gates. This has been reflected by the recent lack of success at Brunton Park. Home form is undoubtedly a criteria under which any league manager is judged."

CUOSC also insisted they were representing their members with how they go about their work.

Asked why they did not consider a vote of no confidence in the United board, Jim Mitchell's response was that "we had considered that suggestion already but [for the time being at least] CUOSC took the view that their members/fans would be best served if they continued to have a presence in the boardroom and the influence/potential influence that this brings."

Other club updates included a report that leaks in the Paddock and Warwick Road End roofs "had been fixed" while on disabled facilities, one shelter for away fans had been completd in front of the Pioneer Stand and another was being installed in the corner of the Waterworks End.

"Funding from the London Branch was still available to cover the cost of further improvements to facilities for disabled fans."

United said their kids for a quid promotion at the recent Yeovil game "had produced no real increase in numbers of under-17s attending. The figure was 20 up on the previous home fixture but less than the average for the season."

The club had raised over £3,000 for the Poppy Appeal this year, it was added.

More offers of photographs and other items of memorabilia had come in, following the recntly-unveiled displays in the Sunset Suite.

There had been three expressions of interest to join a new supporter liaison team, with one candidate considered "suitable" to be approached to become lead SLO, assisted by the others.

An anniversary match to commemorate 20 years since Jimmy Glass's famous goal is being planned, with the intention to track down as many players as possible who took part in the game on May 8, 1999.

Goalscoring keeper Glass was "likely to be available" to attend, while it has been "provisionally agreed" that the Motor Neurone Disease Association would be the main beneficiary.

That is the charity supported by Blues favourite Tony Hopper, who died last month after a brave fight against the disease.

The London Branch are also producing Jimmy Glass anniversary t-shirts, while they say proceeds from their latest Hit the Bar! fanzine are being donated to the MND Association.

The fan groups, meanwhile, are to publicise the possibility of setting up an LGBTQ+ supporter group, should there be enough interest, after guidance from the EFL.

Feedback on catering at Brunton Park continued to be "mixed", the meeting heard, with "poor service" observed in the Paddock North hut but better service in the Warwick Road End facilities.

"CUOSC would continue to monitor and report back to club as required."

Chief executive Nigel Clibbens, meanwhile, said in response to questions from the Scottish Supporters' group that he had "no plans" for United being in the Vanarama National League next season.

The club also clarified that a £174,000 figure, recently cited as directors' remuneration by a football finance expert, "was the total cost for all three paid 1921 directors during the 2016-17 year including employer national insurance."

Dobinson, meanwhile, said there were plans to put new first-team shirt designs for next season in the Blues Store "so fans could have their say on them".

United were represented at the meeting by Clibbens, commercial assistant Katie Mitchell and Andy Hall and Amy Nixon from the media team, with nine supporters from various groups attending.