Paul Simpson says Carlisle United cannot afford to put their recent good work to waste by dropping back out of League One.

The Blues manager has stressed he wants to bring in “quite a number” of players in the January transfer window.

Carlisle have a break from the league this weekend as they head to Leyton Orient for the FA Cup first round.

But the Blues’ third-tier battle will soon be back on the agenda with Simpson’s side currently in the relegation zone in 21st place.

United’s manager said he is already looking seriously at January targets – for a period when the Blues boss should be backed by a boosted budget after the prospective Piatak takeover.

“We have already started looking at that,” he said. “We need quite a number of positions to come in to strengthen this group.

“We cannot afford to let this club drop back out of League One.

“We’ve worked really hard to get here, we’ve worked really hard to try and improve the feeling around the place, and I want to keep it.

“Talking personally, I want to keep my job as well, and winning games of football is the way I’ll keep my job.”

Simpson, after last season's promotion from League Two, said it is vital continued progress on the pitch is maintained to go hand in hand with the off-field improvements the Piataks have pledged.

Improved consistency of performance is the top target with Carlisle having so far veered between positive showings such as the brilliant win at Bolton Wanderers, and disappointments like last weekend’s defeat at Cambridge United.

He added: “I keep saying this – I don’t want to keep have to be talking about, ‘Let’s get a response’.

“We have to be responsible for getting a level of performance that’s acceptable.

“Last weekend we didn’t, even though first half I thought we were ok, even at half time I’m thinking we’ll be ok, even though they got some harsh words…but the second half we let ourselves down in terms of our decision making and technical stuff, and pulling shirts and that type of thing.”