The group of business people fronted by two former players who have made an approach to Carlisle United are seeking talks with billionaire Philip Day this week.

They say discussions with Day, head of Blues backers Edinburgh Woollen Mill, will be the next key step in their attempt to get involved with the club.

Ex-Blues players Chris Lumsdon and Steve Skinner have gone public with their part in the proposals after news emerged over the weekend.

None of the business people behind the plan, or its details, have yet been confirmed, with United also not commenting on the specifics of the approach - and fans’ trust CUOSC saying they were not even aware of it.

Lumsdon, though, said they hoped Day, whose business has loaned a seven-figure sum to the Blues since 2017, would consider their plans.

He said: “We’ve spoken to the club, and we have been encouraged to make contact with Philip Day, and propose what we feel would be progress going forward.

“We are waiting on a response from him which we are told will be coming by the end of the week.

“In an ideal world, Philip would want to be more involved, and would work with the new group which includes people who have the club at heart, and who want to really get Carlisle United into the community with everyone pulling in the same direction.”

The News & Star has invited EWM to comment.

The involvement of former United midfielder and media pundit Lumsdon, and Skinner – who was previously chairman of doomed Carlisle non-league outfit Celtic Nation – was revealed on Saturday morning.

The group have said they want to “help” the club. The financial side of any potential deal has not been disclosed.

United did not speak about the approach specifically, but on Saturday confirmed they had been contacted by more than one interested party recently.

A Blues spokesman said: “As covered in the recent Carlisle United Supporters’ Groups [CUSG) meeting at the beginning of November, chief executive Nigel Clibbens confirmed that he had met with an investment broker, who was representing potentially interested parties, and that other directors have been contacted by two separate other parties, but no interest has progressed on any of them so far.

“He went on to describe it as ‘at best these were tentative enquiries’. There is nothing further to add at this stage.”

Supporters’ trust CUOSC, who own 25.4 per cent of United’s holdings company, said they had been unaware of this particular interest.

In a statement to the News & Star they said: “CUOSC have a seat on the Holdings board and shares in the club. We are always prepared to speak to anyone with the interests of the club at heart. But we have heard nothing of this approach.”

It was recently confirmed by United that they are no longer in debt to any of their owners, including Andrew Jenkins, with loans now converted into shares in the club.

The exact level of EWM's debt is unconfirmed, though it stood at £1.31m at the end of the club's last accounting period. CUOSC said United had not drawn on their funds in the last six months.

The news of the new approach emerged in the week Carlisle sacked manager Steven Pressley, with the Cumbrians losing 2-1 at Port Vale under caretaker boss Gavin Skelton.

Ex-United loanee Mark Cullen scored a late winner as the home side came from behind after Ryan Loft’s opener after 21 seconds at Vale Park.

The Blues have still not yet commented on their process of appointing a successor to Pressley.