Carlisle United boss Chris Beech has suggested he wants the majority of his current squad to remain at Brunton Park next season.

The Blues, who have three games left of 2020/21, last week announced a string of contract extensions.

It will keep the core of this campaign’s squad together.

But with other senior figures yet to see their futures resolved, Beech said he hoped most of his players will remain.

Beech said: “There’s a lot of players’ contracts that are out and open, and a lot with options.

“The hard work with [those players] was done last season and it’s quite right that they’ve been activated. They’ve done very well.

“I don’t want to go on too much about it but I want to see 99 per cent of us [still here].”

Beech said the way tomorrow’s table-topping opponents Cheltenham have gradually evolved their squad is something United can look to emulate.

Last summer brought a huge overhaul in the squad at Brunton Park but this close-season looks set to see less dramatic change.

Carlisle have activated triggers to extend the contracts of Callum Guy, Aaron Hayden, Lewis Alessandra, Joe Riley, Jack Armer, Josh Dixon and Taylor Charters.

Beech wants all the focus to remain on United’s final three games before remaining contract issues are aired.

The future of senior players such as Rhys Bennett, Offrande Zanzala, Paul Farman and Omari Patrick are yet to be resolved.

Asked if the challenge of playing for their futures could be another motivating factor for players at this point, he said: “Yes – and it has so much outside influence from agents and different situations.

“But we have been a brilliant membership of remaining a team and I want us to remain a team until we finish.

“At that point difference will happen, but like I’ve mentioned about our great opponents on Tuesday, Cheltenham, they’ve been around this block a few times now, to be progressive each season to get themselves in this position they’re in now.

“That’s brilliant to them and we’ve got to learn off them, but we’re playing them on Tuesday and we’ve got to try and beat them.”

Beech said he will talk about the recent contract extensions in greater detail in the near future.

He added: “All of the lads have been great.

“I think some of them would really excel with a great crowd behind them – we’ve got a great crowd who unfortunately can’t share things with us.

“It’s been a long season, and the lads haven’t had a lot of time off even though we had a long period without playing, because we were always preparing to play.

“Sometimes you need that roar from the fans to bring that little bit extra out of you. I always played much better in bigger games with the fans right behind me.

“We haven’t been able to have that but hopefully they’ll be back next season.”