Paul Simpson says he wants "five or six" more signings after confirming the capture of Luke Armstrong at Carlisle United.

And the Blues manager has described the arrival of the Harrogate Town striker as a statement of intent.

United this morning confirmed they had agreed a deal with Harrogate and Armstrong that will see the 27-year-old become a Carlisle player at the start of the January transfer window.

He will train with his prospective new team-mates before then and the move will kickstart an expected major period of recruitment backed by United's new owners, the Piatak family.

Carlisle boss Simpson wants to bolster his squad for the League One survival fight and he said today: "He [Armstrong] is a real good addition and is the first of what I hope will be maybe five or six more.

"I think it shows the intent of what we want. We are absolutely determined to stay in League One and the owners are absolutely determined to stay in League One."

United, Simpson said, had been priced out of a potential move for Armstrong in the summer when the manager said an asking price of about £500,000 had deterred the Blues.

The striker went on to agree a move to Wrexham only for the deal to collapse over the late filing of paperwork after the summer deadline.

United's outlay on Armstrong and the length of deal agreed by the striker now have not yet been disclosed.

Simpson, speaking on Carlisle's website, added: “We need some help, we need we need to strengthen the group. Luke is a great addition and is coming with a real determination of wanting to come and do well.

"He's a player who I would have loved to sign in the summer, but he was out of our reach in terms of finances.

“We've agreed a deal for him which the three parties - ourselves, Harrogate, and Luke - have all agreed. He's going to come in and work with us so that we've got control over what he's doing."

Armstrong will be registered as a Carlisle player on January 1 but will not be able to play in that day's game against Port Vale - meaning his debut can come on the January 6 trip to Exeter City.

“I was absolutely delighted to know that we had the opportunity to sign him, so that's part of the work that's been going on in the background," added Simpson.

"I think everybody will look and think that's a positive step forward.

“He's an energetic player, he's got a bit of nastiness about him and can score goals as well. We've got to make sure that as a group, we settle him into the squad and settle him into the football club.”