Football fans are often asked to trust the process.

Whether it be through a tricky period of results or, as we find ourselves currently, during a transfer window, patience is often required. While the short-term may prove frustrating, the long-term results will, it is hoped, make all that worthwhile.

And there will undoubtedly be some frustration and concern from some quarters at Carlisle United's transfer activity to date.

Having opted not to renew the contracts of eight players, with two more moving on after turning down fresh terms, there are sizeable gaps in the squad to fill.

But thus far there have just been two new arrivals - midfielder Owen Moxon and goalkeeper Tomas Holy both signing two-year deals at Brunton Park.

So with the return to pre-season now looming on the horizon, there remains much work to do in the transfer market.

Is it time to worry? Not quite.

For Carlisle United are far from alone in this regard. While Paul Simpson stated he would have liked the majority of his squad in place before pre-season kicks-off on June 22, so too would every manager across the country.

The reality is that there will be no club across the EFL who will consider themselves done in the transfer market already.

Some will be closer to completion in their respective rebuilds, but we've barely scratched the surface when it comes to completing business - particularly in League Two.

While there have been a number of clubs that have been busy in the market thus far - most notably Bradford City, Walsall and Stevenage - the majority of teams remain in a similar position to Carlisle.

Indeed, there are some sides who have yet to complete a single addition. The Cumbrians, therefore, are not lagging behind the majority.

It's also important to remember that all fourth tier sides will have to be patient. Clubs higher up the pyramid will want to complete their own additions before sanctioning departures to League Two, while free agents will often bide their time in the hopes of an offer from higher up the pyramid.

There may also be some concern over the lack of any transfer news or speculation surfacing regarding the Blues - but again, that is no bad thing.

Ask any club and they'll say they prefer to operate in private, without interest in players emerging and bringing about the risk of additional competition for signatures.

So the lack of rumours doesn't mean discussions aren't ongoing. The signing of Owen Moxon came unheralded and news of interest in Tomas Holy only emerged shortly before he was formally announced.

It's also worth nothing that, with those two additions, Carlisle do have a good core squad from which to build.

Were the season to start tomorrow, Simpson could name the following side in a 3-5-2 formation: Tomas Holy; Jon Mellish, Corey Whelan, Morgan Feeney; Jack Armer, Callum Guy, Jordan Gibson, Owen Moxon, Brennan Dickenson; Omari Patrick, Kristian Dennis.

Is there much depth beneath that? No. And is that a squad that you could definitively say is capable of achieving more than last season? Perhaps not.

But it's a good base from which to build, and that's easy to forget when there are known gaps in the squad.

Work is ongoing to address those gaps, but patience will be key.

Carlisle could sign players now. Simpson probably could have assembled a full squad already, but it's imperative that the Cumbrians attract the right players rather than the ones who are available quickly.

Patience over panic in the transfer market is the approach and, while it may be frustrating to see other clubs signing multiple players, it's by adopting such an approach that the Blues will build a sign that fans can be proud of.

And so, for now, Carlisle United fans will have to trust the process.

However, that process will likely have a greater backing than it has done in recent years, with Simpson and Greg Abbott now leading the recruitment charge.

Of course, that trust will have to be earned over the longer-term and only good additions will bring that. 

But if they come, then any short-term frustration will be well worth it.