Owner Tom Piatak says the pressure on Carlisle United to deliver next season is something everyone at the club must thrive on.

And he says “things would have to change” if the Blues fall short of the necessary standards in the 2024/25 League Two campaign.

United have openly spoken about targeting an immediate return to League One after last season’s relegation.

Chairman and owner Piatak acknowledges that brings a certain pressure, following last term’s disappointment, but says that is something to be embraced.

“Yes, there is pressure, no doubt,” he said. “We want to win. We're committed to it.

“We're competitors. I think everybody in Brunton Park is a competitor. And they all know what we have to do, and we're out to do it.

“And if not, it's going to be disappointing, and things would have to change.”

Carlisle have made seven signings so far and are expected to bring in more new players as they look to change the tone on the pitch after 2023/24’s struggles.

Piatak says United’s difficulties last season must be kept in context but that does not mean expectations are anything other than high for the forthcoming campaign.

“I think we need to put in perspective last season,” he said.

“We moved up a division, and we played with, really, the exact same squad – maybe not even as good of a squad as we'd had the previous year.

“The change from League Two to League One in terms of the skill level and the competition was significant.

“And so, yes, last season was not great, but given all the factors, we all knew surviving League One was an achievable but a very, very difficult goal.

“So as we come in here [now] – yes, there is pressure on, but that's sports. You win or you go home. It's as simple as that.”