Carlisle United have new owners after Irish businessman John Courtenay completed a seven-month battle to take over the troubled Cumbrian club.

Courtenay's takeover ends Michael Knighton's controversial 10-year reign

It also means a quick return to Brunton Park for manager Roddy Collins 10 weeks after he was sacked for comments urging Knighton to sell to Courtenay.

Courtenay initially claimed to have struck an agreement with Knighton back in January but what were described as minor sticking points developed into a breakdown in negotiations.

Meanwhile, Carlisle lurched from crisis to crisis.

In May, they were served with a winding-up order over an unpaid �400,000 tax bill, and in June they were forced into voluntary liquidation.

Earlier in July a two-year Football Association investigation finally cleared the club of alleged business irrregularities over Knighton's involvement with the club following his disqualification as a director by the Department of Trade and Industry.

Courtenay has been successful with his new bid which will guarantee Carlisle's survival and told Radio Cumbria of his ambitions.

The Irishman said: "I didn't buy Carlisle to own the bottom club in the League.

"We want to work at this and get it right, but it's a short time-scale to put everything together.