Carlisle United are set for further talks with the city council over their fresh attempts to find a new stadium.

But chief executive Nigel Clibbens has admitted that the possibility of leaving Brunton Park remains a more difficult challenge than ever.

United have held recent meetings with landowners at unnamed sites around Carlisle.

Clibbens said: "We've been talking to a few people around the town about land that might be available for us.

"We had a discussion with the city council and the next step is to go back to them and discuss what we've learned from speaking to the landowners."

Clibbens said it was clear that "lots of things had changed" since United first explored the possibility of moving to a new ground in 2011, with the initial plan - as part of an enabling development at Kingmoor Park - long since off the table.

The chief executive would not discuss details of any of the potential new sites. "It's more the general principles of whether these schemes are doable in certain locations," he said.

"The signs are that it's going to be far more difficult than it was last time, and if it was difficult then, you can imagine what it's going to be like now.

"So we need a different kind of approach and to think what that means for the club."

Clibbens suggested the council were "very supportive" of United's efforts. "They understand the role Carlisle United can have in the community and what community facilities can bring to a city," he said.

"They understand the challenges we face, but equally they have their own challenges - life isn't easy in local government, with cuts and frontline services under pressure.

"We'll just have to see if we can find a coming together where we all move forward. The club needs to make progress on this very soon because this isn't going to go away."

United, meanwhile, are holding a fans' forum in the Sunset Suite next Thursday, April 12, from 6.30pm.

Directors Andrew Jenkins, Steven Pattison, Lord Clark, Jim Mitchell and Billy Atkinson are set to be on the panel, but John Nixon may not be there. "He has a prior, long-term commitment," Clibbens said. "He would hope to be there but can't guarantee it."