Carlisle United’s supporters’ trust have blamed an IT problem for “losing” some of the votes cast in its board elections.

CUOSC have urged some fans to resubmit their votes.

They say votes that were cast electronically on Thursday this week have disappeared.

Votes cast on preceding days were not affected by the problem, they have stressed.

CUOSC revealed the problem in an email to members today, ahead of their AGM later this month.

Their statement said: “Our independent returning officer had an IT issue yesterday, and as a result some of the votes cast electronically yesterday (and only yesterday, Thursday 21/7) were lost.

“IF YOU VOTED IN THE BOARD ELECTIONS ON THURSDAY 21 JULY PLEASE RE-SUBMIT YOUR VOTE.”

CUOSC said that votes cast for AGM resolutions had not been affected, but they have still asked fans to submit both votes again, “so we can track who has voted again today”.

They said anyone recorded on Thursday as voting for the AGM resolutions who do not resubmit their votes will be contacted independently to ensure their vote is submitted and recorded.

CUOSC stressed that the problem had not affected anyone who voted between Sunday and Wednesday.

Likewise, votes submitted today – Friday – are unaffected, the trust said.

Neil Le Milliere from the Exeter City Trust is acting as an independent returning officer for the CUOSC elections.

There are eight supporters contesting six board positions.

They include current board members Norman Steel and Billy Atkinson – the latter is CUOSC’s representative on United’s Holdings board.

Gerard Gornall is another fan up for election – whilst five people who are part of the new Unita Fortior group are also standing.

They are Chris Armstrong, Matt Spooner, Dave Noble, Kieron Bulman and Dan MacLennan.

Candidates were told that no “public campaigning” during the election period, and those who breach the rule would be removed from the ballot.

Those standing have submitted statements for members to read via the CUOSC website at http://cuosc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Statements.pdf.

Another CUOSC board member, Nigel Davidson, has meanwhile commented on taking up the position of trust representative on United’s 1921 operational board.

He replaces Jim Mitchell, who has stood down for health reasons.

Davidson, in an article on United’s website, said it was “incredible” to be in the board position.

He said he would approach the job with “dedication and professionalism” and build a “two-way relationship” between supporters and club.

“It’s a challenge to bring together a supporter base, but one I am looking forward to,” he added. “We all fundamentally have the same aim and that is to see Carlisle United achieve success on and off the field.

“One thing I will say is that I will be available to talk to supporters on any subject within that remit.”

The looming CUOSC AGM comes amid a recent climate of tension between leading trust figures and Unita Fortior.

The latter group formed last winter with an aim of increasing trust membership numbers, claiming CUOSC had “stagnated”.

They went on to say, after voicing frustration at a number of situations, “the only way change is realistically going to happen within CUOSC is to put forward candidates at the AGM ourselves.”

CUOSC board members Davidson and Frank Beattie then hit back at UF’s comments in a BBC Radio Cumbria interview.

They described UF as a “trojan horse” designed to “oust us and sit themselves in front of the directors of the football club” - and alleged that the new group were “causing division”.

The CUOSC AGM is held on Sunday, July 31.