Carlisle United: D-Day in fans' vote on Piatak takeover plan

CUOSC members have until this afternoon to cast their vote in a resolution which has a key part in the American business family’s bid to take control of the Blues.

A simple majority is needed for the resolution, which has been put to members, to be passed.

And it is expected that trust members will overwhelmingly back the deal - which will give the Piataks the green light to progress the takeover.

The Florida family, through a newly-formed company called Castle Sports Group, impressed supporters with their presentation at Sunday's members' meeting.

The likely outcome is that trust members will vote in favour of a deal which is understood to involve a reduction in their voting rights in CUFC Holdings from 25.4 per cent to ten per cent.

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The board of the trust have unanimously urged members to vote in favour of the Piatak plan.

Voting opened on Monday with members eligible to vote having been contacted by email with details on how to take part. 

The Piatak family (left to right) Nick DeMasi, Jenna Piatak, Tom Piatak, Patty Piatak, Tom Piatak II, Alice Piatak (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Once the votes are counted, CUOSC say the results will be shared with the Piataks and the United hierarchy, along with members and the local media.

Should the vote go in the Piataks' favour, CUOSC chair Matt Spooner said: "That [will be] our part of the deal done until we sign the final papers – then it’s up to Tom and the owners to ratify their parts.

“That is under way and nearing completion.”

It promises to be another crucial step in a takeover process which it is hoped will transform the Brunton Park club.

And it comes after CUOSC announced they had reached the 1,000 member mark for the first time in several years.

The Piataks, meanwhile, attended last night's Fred Conway Cumberland Cup first round tie between United and Carlisle City at Gillford Park.

Tom Piatak and wife Patty watched the game along with son Tom II and his wife Alice, plus daughter Jenna and her fiance Nick.

Tom II and Alice sported bucket hats in United's "fruit salad" away kit colours as they watched the 1-1 draw followed by a 4-2 penalty shoot-out victory.

Tom Piatak also gave an interview to BBC Radio Cumbria where he reiterated his family's reasons behind their interest in the Blues, which he had explained to members on Sunday and also outlined to the News & Star.

The owner and CEO of Magellan Transport Logistics sat alongside United manager Paul Simpson for much of the game.