John Nixon has denied that he and his co-owners at Carlisle United are “blockers” to takeover.

The Blues director said he and his fellow members of the Brunton Park hierarchy said it is vital to take the necessary time to find the right successors.

United’s supremos last week revealed that they still hope stalled “succession” talks with Edinburgh Woollen Mill / Purepay Retail Limited can eventually see change at the top of the club.

Nixon, Andrew Jenkins and Steven Pattison have formed the controlling regime since 2008.

The former told a fans’ forum that, despite criticism from some fans, he and his colleagues want the right future for the club.

“We love the club and are not in it to make money, never have made any money,” Nixon said.

“We will try and always get the best for Carlisle United. That’s never waned in any of the directors.

“We hope we can get people in who can thrust it into a different direction. That will be good. And give it new impetus. That will be good.

“But it has to be the right people and it has to be in the right hands, because this is part of the city and community. It isn’t something you can give away willy-nilly.

“That doesn’t mean you want to keep it. It’s just something you believe, being local and born in this part of the world, it’s very important...to put it into safe hands.

“We’re not blockers. We’ve got to get it right. We would be criticised more for putting it into the wrong hands if we created another Bury than for taking our time.”

Supporters’ trust CUOSC, who also have a significant stake in the club, yesterday said they were “surprised” at the amount of detail Nixon had put into the public domain about the discussions with EWM.

While the firms connected to tycoon Philip Day appear to remain the only focus regarding “succession” at Brunton Park, the prospect of an imminent deal now appears remote.

Blues chiefs, though, insist they have done all they could to deliver change and are continuing with that approach.

Previous takeover or investment approaches, including those involving Andrew Lapping and Yahya Kirdi, did not come off at the club.

But chief executive Nigel Clibbens, in response to a supporter’s question on what the three owners bring to the table, said: “I think the three individual directors [Nixon, Jenkins and Pattison] have accepted – and since I came into the club it’s been the same – that succession was needed and they were prepared to step aside.

“They’ve tried hard to make that happen but it hasn’t happened. They accept it’s time for change. They accept that there’s a desire to change, and they’re trying to find someone to take over.

“In the interim, while that’s happening, from my point of view, what do they bring to the club? They bring knowledge, sound heads, being in the community, they value the club, they’re fans, they love the club, they want it to be a success.

“They do everything within their power to make it a success.

“Fans might argue that’s not enough but they’re trying to do it, and are trying to step aside so someone else can come in. You can only do a deal if someone else wants to come in.

“It’s hard to criticise from that point of view when they’ve capitalised the debt, simplified the balance sheet, made a commitment to step aside without taking any money.”

Nixon also insisted he and his colleagues have “always” had an “ambition” to take United back to Championship level – a status the club have not held since 1986.

He also said the aborted ‘Project Blue Yonder’ new stadium plans had been evidence of “ambition”.