David Holdsworth says Callum Guy can have a deal “as long as he wants” after knocking back interest in the Carlisle United captain.

The influential midfielder had been the subject of strong speculation linking him with big-spending National League club Wrexham.

But Guy remained at Brunton Park after last week’s transfer deadline and turned in a strong display in the victory over Salford.

Holdsworth did not name the club involved as he said he had informed interested parties the skipper was not for sale unless “silly money” was put forward.

The director of football said he hoped the 24-year-old would consider extending his deal at Brunton Park beyond the end of this season.

Asked if United had received a bid for Guy, Holdsworth said: “There would have been – it got stopped very sharply by myself, very early, and it only came to light because somebody behind the scenes mentioned it, indirectly.

“I had a conversation with one manager and said, ‘Stop there, it’s not gonna happen’. That was gonna be the last of it. Unfortunately people talk too much and it gives me the hump.

“I put word out very quickly to all agents – ‘Go away, leave me alone and he will not be for sale at any cost unless it’s stupid money’.

“I respect the person who asked me that directly, but the next game I went to a match and the first question I got from a number of directors of football was are you selling Callum Guy? People talk too much.

“I told that particular manager that he wasn’t going and I would do everything in my power – this is David Holdsworth – that he wouldn’t go through that door.

“Callum’s got the opportunity to sign a new deal if he wants it. He can have it, I told him this six weeks ago. If he wants to sit down with me again, he can have a new deal. He can stay as long as he wants.

“I sat with Callum, who had just been made captain, and it’s a real honour to be made captain of any club, and especially here for us.

“He’s loving that, he’s shown loyalty and he hasn’t knocked on my door, which I admire Callum for, because he’s probably had people in his ear behind the scenes.

“There may be various others because agents love to do that, and they love to be disruptive. I have a great way of getting rid of them, that’s easy, and I think if they want new deals we’ll sit down and try to get them to that.”

Holdsworth said his suggestion that Guy could have a longer deal should address what he described as a “myth” over the type of deal offered to Blues players in recent times.

“I want you to take that theory and perhaps tweak it a little bit,” he said.

“Let’s try and get that myth [dealt with]. I want longevity for all the players.”

Also referring to the likes of Jon Mellish, Holdsworth said of other squad members: “I’d like a number of those to sit down with new deals. Now the window’s shut I will be looking at addressing that.

“Over the last three years [the contract situation] has got better and better. Perhaps people don’t see that and you don’t want to see it sometimes

“Last summer was the highest retention this club has seen for a long time, because of the deals I’d made.

“Three years ago, when I first came to the club, everyone was getting a one-year deal. They were all on more money, on a stupid bonus scheme, and that’s been dealt with and put in place.

“This club’s in a healthy place because of those deals, which had to be reduced, restructured. Carlisle United is in a healthy place in terms of our future, right now, and where it goes from there, who knows?”

When Holdsworth’s comments on Guy were put to Chris Beech after Saturday’s win over Salford, the head coach said: “We obviously want to get a longer contract for Callum sorted.

“I keep saying that things are better when we don’t change as much but I have to be adaptable. People like Callum are important to us.”

Holdsworth added that United were in a "healthy" place to offer new deals because of the way they had approached the transfer window.

The Blues recouped six-figure sums for Aaron Hayden and George Tanner.

Holdsworth added: "We’re in a healthy place. I can offer those new contracts.

"Some have been rewarded already, to stay, and they know where their futures are. I want that to continue. Chris Beech and the team have got to perform, and if they do they’ll be rewarded.

"That’s the way of the jungle in my opinion. That’s not politics, that’s the truth. If someone deserves it they’ll get their new deals, I don’t have a problem with that."