Bookmakers have responded to Carlisle United's poor start to the season by significantly lengthening their promotion odds.

The Blues are now as long as 125/1 (William Hill) to win League Two, having been 11/1 before a ball was kicked.

And odds for United to be promoted through any route are now out to 16/1 (SkyBet), having been as short as 7/4 (Betfair) before the season started.

Carlisle are currently third bottom after losing five of their first six games, with a new Brunton Park head coach charged with leading the Blues back up the table.

Owner Tom Piatak has said that promotion is still the target for 2024/25 and that is why they made the decision early in the season that led to Paul Simpson's departure and new appointments.

Carlisle, having earlier been 3/1 to make the play-offs, are now 10/1.

Their relegation odds have inevitably shortened after their return of three points from the first available 18.

They are now 6/1 with Betfair to suffer the drop for a second consecutive season, and 8/1 with BetVictor.

Title favourites are currently Doncaster Rovers, who are 5/1 with SkyBet. The Yorkshire club currently sit sixth.

Chesterfield, who are 11th, are second favourites, priced 6/1.

Current leaders Notts County are 8/1.

Relegation favourites are bottom side Morecambe, who are 10/11 to go down with SkyBet, with second favourites Accrington Stanley at 2/1.

Those clubs, plus Harrogate Town, Newport County and Cheltenham Town have shorter relegation odds than the Cumbrians.

Third-placed Barrow are 12/1 for the title with SkyBet and 5/2 for promotion.

In the golden boot stakes, meanwhile, United captain Charlie Wyke is 14/1 to finish the division's top scorer.

Wyke has two goals from Carlisle's first six games. Bradford City's ex-Blues striker Andy Cook, who has three league goals and two in cup competitions, is 9/1 favourite alongside Notts County's Alassana Jatta, who has three in the league and one in the cups.