Carlisle boss Greg Abbott intends to give the six players he has offered new contracts more time to come to a decision over their futures.

Danny Graham, Ian Harte, Tony Kane, David Raven and Adam Collin have all been offered two-year deals, while Abbott also given Gavin Rothery the option of an extra year at Brunton Park.

And although he accepts the club's fans may want to see progress, he is prepared to bide his time.

"We know that everyone would like to know that things are sorted sooner rather than later," he told Carlisle's official website. "But to be fair to the club and to the players we have to allow a certain amount of time for these decisions to be made.

"We gave the players their letters last week and that states that they have a month to think things over and come back to us.

"Obviously it will be quicker with some but you definitely wouldn't expect them to give an answer the next day. A month is always the time scale so we have to respect that and give them the time they need."