Carlisle United are STILL waiting for a response from Purepay Retail Limited over debt discussions, it has been revealed.

More than five months after the end of takeover talks with parties linked to businessman Philip Day, there remains no movement on the Cumbrians' seven-figure debt.

United's latest update, issued ahead of a supporters' group meeting, said that Purepay were still to come to the table despite invitations from directors.

And it comes despite one Purepay figure - John Jackson - also being a director of United's Holdings board.

Carlisle's update said: "We still await a response from Purepay to the ideas put forward by the club.

"No discussions are taking place nor [are] there any plans currently in place to have any."

The Purepay loan continues to accrue interest and, while there have not been any demand for repayments currently, United's recent accounts offered no guarantee that this would remain the case.

"The Holdings board continues to seek a response from Purepay and to hold discussions," United added.

Some Blues directors will answer questions on big issues at the club from fans at a forum on Tuesday.

Co-owners John Nixon and Steven Pattison are attending along with chief executive Nigel Clibbens, Suzanne Kidd and CUOSC's Billy Atkinson.

But Jackson - who has never made any public comment about his United role - is again absent from the panel, likewise chairman and co-owner Andrew Jenkins.

A further update on United's financial position, meanwhile, said the club's cash position was "sound".

That is despite a greater reduction in cash reserves than normal this year because of the additional spending on players in the January transfer window, and the pay-off costs connected to the departures of manager Keith Millen and director of football David Holdsworth in February.

"However, new unbudgeted Football Fortune (contingent transfer add-ons) received in February and March helps to offset this," United added.

The club say there are currently no "significent" guaranteed receipts due next season from historic transfer deals.

They added: "New season ticket sales will be critical to our plans and what we can afford to spend in 2022/23.

"A positive and optimistic finish to the 21/22 season with excitement for 22/23 is clearly vitally important.

"This is needed alongside continuing to conserve cash to fund our normal future day-to-day trading activities and if possible build cash reserves, just in case, to cover unplanned events.

"We expect and are planning for our costs and spending to increase in 22/23 and beyond. This includes on and off the field."

United's update, provided by chief executive Clibbens, meanwhile said that a potential would-be investor was in "intermittent" contact with the club but there were no live talks.

He referred to "Plans B and C" cited by co-owner John Nixon last summer, at a time United were still hoping to pursue a takeover deal with EWM/Eden Valley Sport Limited, the latter a company connected to Day which was set up several years ago but which has not so far traded.

"The plan B investor remains in intermittent contact but is not active," Clibbens said.

"The plan C investor has gone away.

"No new expressions of interest in taking over or investing in the club have been received in 2022 so far.

"We have also not been contacted by any potential investor requesting information as a first-step.

"I have had one new conversation with an “intermediary”, to outline the position of the club from already public information. No contact after that."

Clibbens added that, in the nine months to March 31 of the current trading year, Carlisle were £0.5m in profit thanks to improved match ticket income - particularly since Paul Simpson's return - strong iFollow sales, Premier League funding and transfer income of £600,000 so far in 2021/22.

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