Carlisle United have been named as one of the most “investable” clubs in the UK in a new study.
The Blues are prime candidates for improvement and expansion according to research by football finance expert Dr Rob Wilson from Sheffield Hallam University and bookmaker BetVictor.
They rank Carlisle as the seventh most investable club in the country and with the fourth most potential in League Two.
Their verdict says that investment in United’s infrastructure could deliver clear benefits to the club’s youth recruitment and facilities.
READ MORE: Carlisle United fans' trust man makes appeal over Purepay debt
They also claim the Blues would be available for a “relatively cheap fee” and have “ample growth when it comes to stadium utilisation”.
The study scores clubs in four different areas – digital footprint, infrastructure, utilisation and financials.
United are given a total score of 70 out of 100, with only Scottish Championship pair Arbroath and Ayr United, plus League One outfit Cheltenham Town and League Two clubs Crawley Town, Grimsby Town and Stevenage scoring higher than the Cumbrians.
The researchers considered 114 clubs as part of the study.
Of Carlisle, they said: “The Cumbrian side has one of the biggest stadiums in League Two, but Brunton Park has fallen victim to flooding in 2005 and 2015, with the match-day car park flooding at least once per year resulting in costly damages.
“In 2011 plans were announced to move the team to a 12,000 capacity all-seater stadium, however these have yet to come into fruition.
“An investor with the resources and vision to execute a new stadium build could provide Carlisle with a much-needed boost and optimise the club’s expenditure and revenue.”
Carlisle’s ownership and investment future appears firmly tied to its ongoing debt situation, with the club still owing some £2.4m to Purepay Retail Limited – a legacy of loans from former backers Edinburgh Woollen Mill.
Club owners last week said they had tabled a formal repayment proposal to the firm.
They were hoping for agreement on the plan, with United co-owner John Nixon saying he had recently spoken to Purepay and CUFC Holdings director John Jackson about the matter.
He said Jackson had told him he was currently calculating the balance of interest on the debt for the latest financial year.
Nixon added that clearing the “hurdle” of an agreement on the debt was a “vital” stage in terms of opening the door to potential new investment.
Billy Atkinson, who represents supporters’ trust CUOSC on United’s Holdings board, said at the same fans’ forum that he was “really disappointed” Purepay had not yet come to the table to sort things out.
The News & Star has invited Jackson to comment.
To read the full 'investable clubs' study, click HERE
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