Carlisle United fans vote in favour of Piatak takeover

A vote by CUOSC members went massively in the Americans’ favour – with 98 per cent supporting the deal.

It means the trust have now agreed to reduce their voting stake in United’s Holding company from 25.4 to ten per cent.

And it gives the green light for the Piataks to push ahead with a takeover they hope to complete next month.

Some 701 fans cast their votes - an 83 per cent turnout from the 849 members who were eligible to vote - with 688 voting for the resolution, 12 against and one spoiling their vote.

The Piatak family set out their plans to CUOSC members on Sunday (Image: Barbara Abbott)

The result is a ringing endorsement of the Florida business family’s plans for the club which they set out to CUOSC members last Sunday.

🗳️ MEMBERS’ VOTE RESULT 🗳️

701 of 849 eligible Members’ voted - Turnout of 82.57%

✅ In Favour - 688 (98.15%)
❌ Against - 12 (1.71%)

There was 1 spoiled vote (0.14%).

The CUOSC Membership have overwhelmingly accepted the proposal from @CastleSportsGrp.#cufc #cuosc pic.twitter.com/En2ISYslaF

— CUOSC (@CUOSC) September 27, 2023

The trust vote brings forward the prospect of a new era at the Brunton Park club.

Tom Piatak, owner and chief executive of Magellan Transport Logistics, impressed fans with a detailed presentation on their plans for United.

He was supported by wife Patty, son Tom II and his wife Alice, and daughter Jenna and her fiancé Nick, who are all involved in the takeover plans.

They want to invest in the club’s infrastructure as well as back Paul Simpson with transfer funds.

Discussions, which are already advanced, can now progress further, though a final deal could still depend on a solution to the club’s debt to Purepay Retail Limited being found.

The prospective takeover is already being assessed by the EFL, with the Piataks having submitted information to satisfy the league’s owners’ and directors’ test.

CUOSC chair Matt Spooner welcomed the result of the vote. The trust board had unanimously urged members to vote in favour.

He said: "This marks a significant moment in the history of CUOSC.

“We would like to thank the membership for such a big turnout and we are supportive of the result.

“Even with news of membership approval, it is important to recognise the deal is not yet done. There are other important parts that need to be finalised.”

Tom Piatak, speaking to the News & Star on Sunday, said he hoped the takeover would be complete around October 14-20.

He also said he was "confident" a resolution to the debt situation could be reached, but it is not yet clear whether Purepay have responded to his call for them to come to the table for talks.

The Piataks have yet to comment on tonight's news but their company which is a vehicle for the takeover, Castle Sports Group, has been active on social media, 'liking' posts on X which refer to the vote result.

United are also yet to comment.