Carlisle United owner Fred Story today reassured Blues supporters that all transfer fees received by the club for any player who had been sold in the past or who would be transferred in the future would continue to go directly to the club.

Fred added that NO money from the sale of Keiren Westwood last month to Coventry City or of any other CUFC player will go to him or be taken out of the club while he is the owner.

His comments followed media reports yesterday linking striker Joe Garner with a transfer to Nottingham Forest.

Fred said: "I know a lot of our supporters have been dismayed by the recent speculation about the sale of Joe Garner. It was extremely unfortunate that news of Nottingham Forest's inquiry about Joe, which was at a very early stage, came out at the Nottingham Forest end for whatever reason.

"Joe remains a Carlisle United player, under contract to us for another two years, and we will only transfer him if it is in the best interests of the club.

"If Joe or any other player was to leave Carlisle United at any stage while I am owner, I can assure fans that the money received will remain in the club to be spent in the best way. No part of any transfer fee received by Carlisle United will go to me."

Fred has already stated that he is considering selling his controlling interest in the club after four successful years at the helm at Brunton Park. He added: "When I sell my shares in the club, it will be in a deal which I consider to be in the best interests of the future of Carlisle United FC."

The club was £2.2 million in debt when Fred took control of Carlisle United from John Courtenay in 2004. He paid off that debt, which was at a cripplingly high interest rate, with an interest-free loan from his own company Story Construction. The club's success on and off the pitch since then has enabled it to reduce that debt to the current level of £1.5 million.