Carlisle United takeover complete

After months of speculation Carlisle United now have new owners.

The piatak's have bought out the Carlisle United Association Football Club (1921) Ltd as well as the supporter group's shares to become majority owners of the 120 year old club.

The blue's new owner had been spotted in and around Brunton Park as early as May, sparking speculation at what an American businessman was doing at a league 2 match at the country's most northern club.

Florida based businessman Tom Piatak and his family will now be looking to take the club on, with their first aim presumably survival in league 1.

The club confirmed the news in a statement on their website: "Carlisle United Football Club can now confirm that following EFL approval, the ownership and control of the club has changed.

"The new owners of the club are Castle Sports Group, owned by the Piatak family from Jacksonville, Florida, USA.

"We offer them a huge Cumbrian welcome to Carlisle United.

"Everyone associated with the club is delighted and looking forward to a long and successful future together."

As speculation mounted over a potential take-over, current manager Paul Simpson made it clear where he'd want to see investment: "It's got to be right, Carlisle united isn't just a football club, it's part of our city and part of our community. It has to be right for everybody.

"They're talking about improving the squad further down the line when we can, talking about improving the infrastructure, talking about making it a better experience for fans. Over time I hope they get that opportunity.

"We are looking for a training facility, we will need help with that, they want to prioritise getting a training ground. We need the council and local business to help us with that.

"We have to have a set training facility which is equiped to take us into the next phase of development for the club. I know the Piatak family are really keen to do that and I've been banging the drum that that's what I want."

Also previously sharing views with GHR Cumbria was the clubs fans.

Liam Barton, who also runs the Blue army podcast, said:

"I think there's a few things the owners could do to get the fans onside. Little things like putting a screen back at the Waterworks end will just give us a little lift and it's a little shot of investment that everybody can visibly see. I think those kind of investments will be really important in the first couple of months.

"I don't expect them to come in and splash millions on marque signings or anything like that but I do expect them to start pretty quickly in just improving the hospitality and the facilities around Brunton Park and maybe even the community.

"Investment into players wise, Haaland would be nice, Mpabbe even. But in realistic terms we need to be looking towards building a team for stability this season, but also one that can grow for the future. It's a really difficult market out there though, finding those right targets is a minefield at league 1."

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