Carlisle United say their debt to Purepay Retail Limited is increasing by £3,500 per week.

The Blues revealed the figures in their latest official update to fan groups (CUSG).

Rising interest rates have contributed to the increase.

United said last week they had recently held long-awaited face-to-face talks with the business to whom they owe a seven-figure sum.

The club have long been seeking to agree a repayment plan over the debt which is a legacy of previous loans from Edinburgh Woollen Mill, but such an outcome has yet to be confirmed.

Chief executive Nigel Clibbens, in his official update attached to CUSG minutes, said the Purepay debt position was "unchanged", adding: "Interest charges are escalating as interest rates and compounding takes place.

"The current cost is circa £3,500 per week."

Clibbens added: "The year end debt balance is circa £2.7m (£2.1m capital and £600k interest)."

The figures came as the director said United were estimating to report a full year loss for 2022/23 of around £600,000.

He said contributing factors to this would be the lowest 'football fortune' for eight years of just £200,000, as well as increased football spending, higher overhead costs and more than £150,000 of debt interest to Purepay.

Clibbens, though, added: " Our finances are currently far better than budgeted at the start the year. Overall as we enter 23/24, we remain in a sound position for next season.

"Our medium and long-term challenges remain."

Clibbens, meanwhile, revealed that the club made no surplus profit from their play-off campaign.

He said the extra revenue from their two semi-final games and the Wembley final were pooled, and United's share "broadly covered promotion bonuses to football players and staff".

Clibbens added that United's overall financial figures were better than budgeted because of increased crowds, more spending on retail and catering, and improved commercial business.

He added: "Cash reserves at 1 July 2023 are healthy. This is critical in our funding the club for 23/24 [in the absence of new shareholder funds next season or Football Fortune].

"This funding model is increasingly rare in the EFL. Only a handful of other EFL clubs have managed to operate with no new cash finance whatsoever from debt or equity in this period.

"The shareholders continue to seek a dialogue with Purepay.

"A face-to-face meeting has been held and communication is ongoing with a view to making some progress in future."

Co-owner John Nixon last week said United were dealing with Purepay director John Jackson, who is also a director of the Blues' holding company CUFC Holdings, over the debt situation.

Clibbens also said: "The ongoing consequences of our self-funding model mean we continue to face financial pressures."

The director added that United would again budget for a significant loss in 2023/24 before any football fortune is taken into account.