Carlisle United owner Tom Piatak wants the Blues to go on tour to Florida within the next two years.

The Blues chairman said a pre-season trip next summer at the earliest, or 2026 at the latest, is being discussed.

United’s American owners want to take the team to Jacksonville as part of growing relations between Carlisle and their home city.

The idea of a pre-season tour including a friendly is very much on the agenda.

And it could be further pursued when a host of dignitaries from Jacksonville watch the Blues twice in person this autumn, including at Brunton Park.

“Fortunately, Tom II [Tom Piatak’s son and fellow Blues director] has connections with [tourism organisation] Visit Jacksonville, we’ve met several times and are discussing pre-season next summer at the earliest or another summer away at the latest,” said Piatak at a supporters’ trust members’ meeting.

“We have, I believe, seven dignitaries from Jacksonville that are coming to the AFC Wimbledon away match [on Saturday, October 12].

“I think, right now, we [also] have six that will be hopefully coming up here to the Harrogate match on the 19th.

“We’re trying to establish a sister city type relationship there.

United will head to Jacksonville either next summer or the one after if Tom Piatak's plans come offUnited will head to Jacksonville either next summer or the one after if Tom Piatak's plans come off (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

“It is certainly our desire to have Carlisle United Football Club over in Jacksonville, over in Florida, for pre-season friendlies.

“The timing of that hasn’t been specified yet but we are working to do that and it’s something we want to do.

“It is on the project list.”

The Jacksonville contingent will be in England in October to coincide with NFL team Jacksonville Jaguars’ two games in London.

The Jaguars take on Chicago Bears at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, October 13, then face New England Patriots at Wembley on Sunday, October 20.

The team’s regular visits to England are accompanied by a delegation of business and tourism bosses.

The chief executive of Visit Jacksonville, Michael Corrigan, told the News & Star earlier this year that potential links with United would be a “big deal” and that a visit for the Blues to the States would hold great appeal.