Carlisle United’s sale of Jarrad Branthwaite to Everton could be “the best deal the club has ever done” according to one of the Blues’ supporters’ trust representatives.

Teenage defender Branthwaite joined the Toffees in January and has since made a quick impact with four Premier League appearances so far.

The Wigton defender’s move was understood to be for around £750,000 but with a number of add-ons that could benefit United further.

Billy Atkinson, who represents fans' trust CUOSC on the Blues’ holdings board, was quoted talking about Branthwaite in minutes from the CUOSC annual general meeting.

“Branthwaite deal – could be best deal CUFC has ever done,” the minutes quote Atkinson sa saying, adding that the Wigton player getting into Everton’s side last season had “brought extra cash”.

Atkinson also confirmed that Carlisle will be due extra income from Manchester United if Dean Henderson forces his way into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first team.

The Whitehaven player, who was previously in Carlisle’s academy, is hoping to unseat David de Gea for the No1 slot at Old Trafford.

Atkinson, who said there are also “good add-ons” in the deals that took Liam McCarron and Josh Galloway to Leeds, said Carlisle had not drawn on financial support from backers Edinburgh Woollen Mill in the last two transfer windows or the current window so far.

“No money needed from EWM in past 12 months,” the fan director added in the minutes.

The AGM, meanwhile, heard there was “no change” in the situation regarding ownership succession.

EWM have long been linked with stepping up their interest in the Blues.

Atkinson added there had been “no substantial interest” from other parties, while the Blues were continuing to repay debts to chairman Andrew Jenkins’ firm Pioneer.

The club’s approach during the Covid-19 pandemic was also praised, with all staff paid in full despite the Blues using the furlough scheme. Credit was due to finance director Suzanne Kidd and chief executive Nigel Clibbens.

CUOSC also referred to their ‘Carlisle REUnited’ fundraising initiative over the summer, saying it was “more important” than simply money.

“Support base and sponsors need to be reunited with the club – really important,” the minutes say. Some £7,891 had so far been raised.

CUOSC also praised director of football David Holdsworth for his role in the appointment of head coach Chris Beech. Atkinson and CUOSC, the minutes say, had “wanted a younger coach keen to improve” to take the helm.

These views, they say, were “taken on board” by the club and the appointment of Beech was described as a “good decision”.

Discussions were continuing about the return of fans to stadiums, the meeting heard, with no away supporters expected to be allowed in Brunton Park for the foreseeable.

A return of a limited number of home supporters in October remains the aim.

Malcolm Nugent, Carol Wilson, Nigel Davidson, Kyle Sproat and Jack Oddie were all elected to the CUOSC board at the meeting, which was held online via Zoom.

Some 24 members, including board members/officers, attended, according to the minutes. Fifty-one votes were received either by post or electronically from 360 members who were eligible to vote at the time of the meeting.