Carlisle United's supporters' trust say they are "extremely disappointed" at John Sheridan's decision to quit the Blues.

Several hours after news broke of Sheridan's resignation, CUOSC issued a short statement.

The fans' group, who have a director on both Brunton Park boards, suggested the timing of the manager's departure was poor.

The statement said: "The CUOSC board is extremely disappointed that John Sheridan has chosen to leave the club at such a vital stage of the season and just as the team has hit promotion form, winning five games in a row and seven of the last 10.

"We appreciate John’s hard work to get us to where we currently are in the league and the progress in his time at the club.

"We are in a crucial period with the transfer window open and we believe it is now very important to get a successor who can quickly come in and continue with the upward momentum that has been created.

"We have a big game against Mansfield tomorrow and we are sure all the fans will be fully behind the players and football staff."

CUOSC own 25.4 per cent of United's holding company. Jim Mitchell is their director on the club's operational board and Billy Atkinson is on the strategic holdings board.

Atkinson represented the supporter group in talks with previous managerial candidates in the process that eventually saw Sheridan appointed in the summer.

The News & Star, meanwhile, has invited Edinburgh Woollen Mill to comment on today's news.

The firm, headed by billionaire Philip Day, have been loaning United money since March 2017.

EWM - whose group finance controller John Jackson is on United's holdings board - have declined many previous requests for comment on Brunton Park matters.