It could prove one of the biggest events in Carlisle United's history.

And it was the News & Star who first revealed the interest of the Piataks in taking over the club.

The American business family, who have dramatically taken control of the Blues today, have been courting the Cumbrian club for months.

And it was our exclusive story in August that brought their interest out into the open.

The first weekend of the new season saw multiple sources tell us that the Jacksonville logistics businessman Tom Piatak was heading serious talks with United and their supporters' trust CUOSC.

Further trusted sources corroborated this information over the following days.

We also established that Tom Piatak snr and his family had sat close to United's hierarchy at Wembley for the League Two play-off final against Stockport County, with our exclusive photos by photographer Richard Parkes showing the Americans celebrating the Blues' success at the national stadium.

Social media activity by the family was then unearthed proving they had been at further games before and since.

Our scoop was published on Wednesday, August 9 with this, and coverage in the following day's News & Star newspaper, dominating the agenda and setting the stage for the huge interest in the story ever since.

We were also the first to interview Tom Piatak snr following his presentation to CUOSC members in September, during which he revealed the family's plans for the Blues and their determination to get the deal done.

Two months and 23 days after our initial story, the Florida family are now in charge at United.

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