Nixon (left) says the club would talk to potential investors

Carlisle United director John Nixon has told BBC Radio Cumbria that the club is not up for sale but would welcome new investment at Brunton Park.

Nixon was responding to recent criticism from former chief executive David Allen who called for "a complete change at the top."

"We're not pushing for a new owner," Nixon said. "People have approached us in the past."

"But we would want to see someone...put substantial amounts in to the club."

Nixon and fellow owners Andrew Jenkins and Steven Pattison, were criticised for "a lack of vision, direction and drive" by David Allen who stepped down from the club last week.

Allen, who also relinquished his shares as one of Carlisle's co-owners, also claimed the board were "letting the fans down" and said elements within Brunton Park's hierarchy were like an "old boys' club."

Nixon responded by saying the directors do business more traditionally at Brunton Park.

"Probably some of the rules of the board room are a little bit the same, we don't allow jeans, we have ties to be on. But that is part of the history and ethos of the club. That's not an old boys club, that's how we are.

"There are two ways you can run a football club," Nixon said.

"One is if you run it in a pure business fashion and two is the way that some other clubs are run like Chelsea, Liverpool or QPR where you do a budget and your outgoings are more than your income and then you need someone like Abramovich to put the extra £2-4m in a year.

"I'm sure all the directors would stand aside and let a new owner come in with new investment and move it forward."

Nixon, who became one of four co-owners in the club in the summer of 2008, also said the team had to get things right on the pitch to get more fans back through the gates.

"Fans are voting with their feet at the moment and staying away," he said.

"It's partially down to how we market the club but it's a great deal down to us winning and giving them real entertainment on a Saturday afternoon."

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