Chris Beech says Carlisle United are ambitious for success next season – but is not declaring what their “target” is.

The head coach says the Blues must aim for consistency in everything they do as they bid to go further than last season’s efforts.

But the United boss declined to “rubber-stamp” a particular “marker” for the 2021/22 season at this stage.

Asked at his most recent press conference what targets he had in mind, Beech said: “It depends who you ask and it depends where you are.

“I’m an ambitious, competitive person and we managed to break all sorts of records last season in all sorts of ways.

“It’ll be hard to break them again, but sometimes staying consistent over a longer period is worth more.

“It’ll be interesting to see how we go, but I want us to do as well as we possibly can.

“There’s no point in rubber-stamping a marker that we put down now.

“It’s important that we concentrate on being good at what we do and that we’re very good against some good opponents.

“That’s where we have to be.”

United’s hierarchy recently said that Carlisle’s budget should not be a barrier to mounting a promotion challenge.

The Cumbrians finished 10th last season, having led the division in January before being hit hard by Covid-19 and postponements.

The Blues’ playing budget was last season said to be in the bottom six of their division. Directors recently said the budget was not being reduced for the forthcoming campaign.

Chief executive Nigel Clibbens said last month: "From a club point of view, our budget is not a barrier to achieving promotion.

"A sustained promotion push can be mounted on our existing budget."

Clibbens also said there was a “difference between success and progress”, adding: “On-field – the definition of success for the club in 2021/22 is promotion to League One. Failure is not achieving that success objective.

"There are other definitions of on and off-field success, but they are all secondary to the top objective of promotion.

"There are other definitions of progress which are needed to be made to contribute the success."