Carlisle United may need to ship players out before they can make significant new signings before the start of the new season.

And that prospect may be increasing, as it is understood there is serious interest in certain members of Keith Curle's squad.

At least two of Curle's senior pros are believed to be the subject of transfer interest.

The possibility of departures from the Blues ranks is expected to become clearer in the coming days.

It is likely to come down to Curle's readiness to part with particular members of his first-team squad in order to create room on the wage bill for new additions.

The United boss has made a target-man centre-forward his top priority, with the club having failed with an initial bid for Barrow's Richie Bennett.

A trialist striker, understood to be ex-Wigan man Sam Cosgrove, got another chance in Saturday's goalless draw at Halifax.

The budget was described as "extremely tight" at yesterday's AGM of the Carlisle United Official Supporters' Club.

Blues supporter and News & Star fans' panellist Tim Graham reported from the meeting on Twitter.

He said CUOSC's Blues board representative Jim Mitchell told the meeting of about 25 people that there is only a "little bit of slack" in the budget, with spending already close to the salary cap.

Mitchell, who said the "quality over quantity" approach "might not be the best strategy", said this may require players to be shipped out if more are to come in.

Billy Atkinson, CUOSC's representative on United's holding company board, added that the loan facility from the Edinburgh Woollen Mill was not "a handout" for new players.

He added that EWM "may show more interest in time" in the running of the club, while CUOSC's Frank Beattie claimed that EWM's billionaire owner Philip Day "does not like the constant criticism of the owners and the club".

CUOSC representatives also defended United's appointment of chief executive Nigel Clibbens, praising his role in helping change the owners' attitudes to CUOSC.

But chairman John Kukuc said he was "disgusted" the club had voted in favour of B Teams continuing in the Checkatrade Trophy despite 98 per cent of fans in a survey saying they did not want that format.

Mitchell had earlier issued a statement entitled "Fake News Alert", which said a recent post on thecumbrians.net forum, quoting him as demanding details of the club's creditors in light of last week's revelation of a winding-up petition from HM Revenue & Customs, was not genuine.

"I want to make it crystal clear that no such e-mail was sent by me," Mitchell said.

Former United defender David Atkinson is leaving Blyth Spartans in order to join Icelandic side IBV Vestmannaeyjar.