Keith Curle set out his plan to lead Carlisle United to promotion next season after axeing 10 players from his squad.

The clear-out, which included Derek Asamoah, Antony Sweeney, Troy Archibald-Henville and Keswick's Steven Rigg, will see another major summer of rebuilding at Brunton Park.

But Curle, who has offered deals to Alex McQueen and Tom Miller, said he is ready for the challenge of putting together a team that can reach League One in 2016/17.

"There are good foundations in place to go forward," he said.

"We're nowhere near the end of the journey. There's a long way to go."

Curle met a transfer target from a Scottish club yesterday as he tries to make early inroads in the market.

That followed face-to-face meetings with every member of his 27-man squad, including five loanees who have returned to their parent clubs.

Others released were Dan Hanford, Angelo Balanta, Joe Thompson, Bastien Hery and Louis Pedro, the latter after just one appearance.

Youth team player Arron Bradbury was also informed that he would not be offered a professional deal.

But Curle confirmed that Jabo Ibehre and Michael Raynes would remain with the Blues after the pair triggered automatic contract extensions.

It leaves United with 10 professionals on the books, with defenders McQueen and Miller having been given seven days to respond to Carlisle's contract offers.

Curle said he had released players who had not figured often enough in the first team in the 2015/16 campaign.

"It's an honest decision by myself, and purely my own decision," Curle said.

"The players that leave aren't bad players, but in my opinion I haven't used them enough.

"Earning a contract is one thing, performing at a high level on a consistent basis is another.

"There are some very good professionals there, and very good characters who have been at the club for the right reasons.

"Hopefully those players will get more game-time elsewhere but take with them their professionalism, character and personalities."

On the books for next season are Raynes, Ibehre, Danny Grainger, Patrick Brough, Mark Gillespie, Charlie Wyke, Mark Ellis, David Atkinson, Luke Joyce and Jason Kennedy.

Curle also revealed that his backroom staff of Lee Dykes, Colin West and Simon Tracey have agreed new contracts in principle.

The United boss, meanwhile, said he spent 45 minutes yesterday in talks with his latest transfer target, a player believed to be attracting interest from both England and Scotland.

"It was my first meeting with the player," Curle said.

"I've seen him play once, Lee Dykes has seen him several times, we've seen good clips and we've been doing our background checks.

"It was important I met the player and his representative face-to-face for 45 minutes."