Signs have emerged that Carlisle United will be able to use part of their proposed new training ground site in pre-season.

While full details of the major development remain unconfirmed, hopes are rising that at least some of the area will be ready in the coming months.

Carlisle are understood to have earmarked the Sheepmount - a site as yet officially unconfirmed - for a new multi-million pound training facility.

It remains unclear when the major work could take place but some of it could be ready in the short-term, according to an update from United's supporters' trust CUOSC.

Matt Spooner, who represents the trust on the club's operational board, relayed this information to the latest CUOSC board meeting.

Minutes from the May 15 meeting, circulated to members in a weekly briefing, say: "Matt provided an update from the 1921 board.

"Progress had been made regarding the training facility and it was now anticipated a partial use of this location would be in place in time for pre-season."

United manager Paul Simpson, speaking to the News & Star earlier this month, said he had received indications of progress on the training ground matter.

But he said the likelihood was that pitches would be ready in a few months' time rather than for pre-season. United return for the start of pre-season training on June 24.

“[I’ve heard] that, at some point – not for June but further down the line, maybe after the first few months of the season, we might have something extra to go on,” Simpson said.

United's owners, the Piataks, recently said they were "poised to invest" some £4m in the new training facility.

Owner Tom Piatak had previously called on Cumberland Council to speed up the process regarding the club's bid to secure the site. The council did not respond to an invitation to comment.

CUOSC, meanwhile, have confirmed that Billy Atkinson is replacing Dave Noble as the trust's alternate director to the 1921 board.

Noble resigned from the trust board earlier this month. Atkinson is already CUOSC's representative on United's Holdings board.

"This position to be reviewed prior to the next AGM," added the trust regarding the 1921 alternate director role.