The rocky first year of Carlisle's American adventure
Today marks one year since a new era was launched at Carlisle United when they became the latest English football club to fall under American ownership.
Castle Sports Group, the company run by the Piatak family from Jacksonville, Florida, arrived in Cumbria to take over.
The Piataks had been bowled over by the history and tradition of the club and wanted to tap into untapped potential
For the passionate fans of this footballing outpost, situated less than 10 miles from the border with Scotland, it heralded hope and opportunity.
But one year on, how are things looking at Brunton Park?
The Piatak family, led by Tom and wife Patty, have made their money through logistics. But like many before, they were seduced by the lure of investing in English football.
Other clubs like Exeter City and Portsmouth were on their radar, but eventually they settled on Carlisle - in-part charmed by the Cumbrians' unlikely triumph in the League Two play-off final against Stockport County.
Eventually, almost six months after that penalty shoot-out success, the Piataks were handed the keys to Brunton Park.
"For a very long time, there was a big fear that there was no financial safety net if anything happened to the late Andrew Jenkins, who was an ageing owner," said BBC Radio Cumbria's Carlisle commentator, James Phillips.
"There was the fear that the club could almost fold overnight. There was a whole generation of Carlisle fans worried about the club's future.
"But the Piataks coming in transformed the way the club was viewed."
On the pitch, rather than the start of a crusade up the leagues, the last 12 months have been little short of horrendous.
When the Piataks took over, Carlisle were 22nd in League One. Today they are 23rd in League Two.
Their tally of 28 points over that time is the fewest of any club in the top four divisions of English football.
Manager Paul Simpson survived relegation but the club hero was sacked in August after four games following a bad start in the division below, but new head coach Mike Williamson has not yet been able to spark a big upturn.
At no point in the last 12 months have Carlisle won back-to-back league games. Their current run of four points out of six equals their best spell of league form in that period.
Relegation to the bottom tier was confirmed with four matches to spare. Eventually they finished 24th out of 24 in League One, finishing 16 points adrift of safety.
But rather than come fighting back in the division below as was hoped for, it has been more of the same in League Two.
A third of the way through the campaign and Carlisle are one point below the cut-off line with only Morecambe beneath them, propping up the whole EFL.
"It has been very, very disappointing," season ticker holder Jonny Reay, 42 told BBC Sport.
"The signings we made to stay in League One didn't work out. We went again in the summer, but that hasn't worked and led to the change in head coach.
"Now the fans are desperate for Williamson and the Piataks to do well."
Carlisle's year in numbers
League games: P45 W7 D7 L31 - 28pts
Home form (all competitions): P31 W2 D4 L19
Most wins at Brunton Park: 2 - Carlisle, Cheltenham
Survivors from first match on 23 November 2023: 6
Players brought in: 22
Players moved on: 16
That year of results would have been enough to crush the optimism of all but the most-loyal supporter. But the Piataks desire to improve everything about the club has not gone unnoticed.
Substantial developments have been made to Brunton Park to improve the fan experience. Significant money has been spent on upgrading houses for new players moving up north to join the club.
While plans for a state-of-the-art training ground and academy facilities are well under way. Locals hope this will convince the next generation of local talent that they do not need to head south at a young age to further their careers like recent examples Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford and Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite had to do.
"When new owners come in, you want them to have a clear vision and a strategy and the Piataks have that," adds Reay.
"But they're new to English football and some of their decisions in terms of recruitment have been poor.
"But the Piataks have got the buzz back around the city. And they have done what they said they would do. But the longer we lose games, will the buzz remain?
Relegation scrap or green shoots?
Carlisle's on-field record over the last year suggests they are in a dogfight to avoid a second successive relegation, something the Piataks would not have envisaged upon arrival, but that view is backed up by the hardcore support.
"We're making a lot of mistakes and we struggle to score," said Reay. "That is not a good combination.
"Given how badly we've played, I'd just like us to stay up and go again next season. Anything beyond that will be a positive.
"Recruitment in January and the summer will be crucial to any success."
But Phillips offers a slightly more optimistic view of the rest of the 2024/25 season.
"After a limp loss at home to Cheltenham last month, the owners doubled down on their man and said there would be perseverance.
"But in the four games since, things have started to turn. You just feel we're starting to see Williamson and his team coming together. Things may be coming into line with the off-field developments."
A bright future?
Last season, Carlisle averaged 8,000 through the turnstiles despite their poor performances on the pitch. They were the best crowds at Brunton Park since the club was in the old Second Division in the mid-1970s.
Understandably, average attendances have dropped a little this season to 7,482 but this is for a team who are struggling at the bottom.
"If we're rocking in League One or League Two, we'll hit 10,000," said Reay. "The Carlisle fanbase is amazing, there is huge potential here.
"I remember last season us taking 4,500 fans down to Bolton and winning 3-1. That's what we have."
For many, coming out of their current on-field malaise is vital for the Piatak project. If results improve, there is a chance that the Cumbrians could get the momentum that they need to get moving in the right direction.
"The Piataks wants to make Carlisle a real, well-run and sustainable Championship club," said Phillips. "It promises to be an exciting ride over the next few years to see if they can get there."
