Nixon targets Carlisle climb

Carlisle managing director John Nixon has targeted promotion back to League One "within two years".

The Cumbrians, relegated to the bottom tier in May, reported a total loss of £369,440 for the financial year and despite this being reduced from £666,257 for the previous year, the club failed to meet its target of breaking even. Nixon said: "The results were not at the 'cash neutral' state that was planned for the year and, as such, were disappointing. "However, after management changes the directors backed the new regime financially in an attempt to avoid relegation from League 1, albeit this was subsequently not successful." The club's total income for the year was £3.55million, in line with the previous year, while expenditure was reduced by £291,000. A club statement read: "The season was driven by some significant injury issues, from the goalkeeper (six months), left and centre backs, midfield and forwards (one of whom retired from professional football due to his injury). "This resulted in a plethora of emergency and medium-term loans which amounted to 21 different players coming into the club in addition to our existing squad. "The constant playing personnel changes undoubtedly had an influence on the season outcome, which was relegation. Significant playing squad changes were envisaged for the start of the 2014/15 season." The report continued: "Business-wise we are once again forecasting a cash neutral result and working hard to contain costs while allowing the playing and coaching aspects to improve with an aim to be challenging at the top of League Two with a primary aim of promotion to League One within the next two years."