Newcastle are effectively in a holding pattern as prospective buyers continued to study the books.
Interested parties were granted access to the club's financial documentation on Wednesday having proved to the satisfaction of investment bankers Seymour Pierce that they have the cash to meet owner Mike Ashley's £100million asking price.
In that respect, there are bids on the table, although there is still a long way to go before any offer could be formalised or accepted, and sources close to the deal have indicated no announcement is imminent.
However, that does not mean progress is not being made, although the identities of the competing consortia and just how far down the line they are respectively remain a matter of some speculation.
Those parties who have reached the point of due diligence - the process of going through the books - have been required to sign non-disclosure agreements which prevent them from making any comment.
Indeed, only the Singapore-based Profitable Group has confirmed its interest, and that on June 10 since when there has been no further word.
At least four consortia are understood to have been in formal contact with Seymour Pierce chairman Keith Harris, the man handed the task of selling the club by Ashley, although it is understood several more may have made approaches.
Groups from South Africa, Oman and the United States, as well as Singapore, have been linked with the club, while former chairman Freddy Shepherd too has more than a passing interest in the race to buy out Ashley.
In addition, no deadline has been imposed and there remains the possibility the successful candidate may be yet to declare its hand, although the current regime is keen to complete its exit as quickly as possible.
Ashley's desperation to get out is understandable with the city's evening newspaper, the Evening Chronicle, reporting he faces another £10million bill at the end of this month to cover player bonuses for last season. In addition, it is understood the latest instalments of the deals which brought Damien Duff and Obafemi Martins to St James' Park are also due.
Comment 55 - 74 of 94
toonrdoon,an absolute screamer,gets better and better,a bonus for being relegated,hang on mate,and thats with the fans cash,WOW fu-ckin Wow,what will they not put up with at toontown.
gIMp Got any proof to back yourself up on that statement Granny, Tranny, Barry whatever you are today
imp..i think ashley thought he had the midas touch in business(floating chavsports direct for 1billion)but has had his fingers burnt,but also allardyce and the players he bought.smith£6m,barton£6m,and wages of over50k a week (17 players)and relegation has just put the cherry on the top!!if quinn lets bruce spend like he let keane,and paying massive wages to attract players,it could be sunderland in our position.
newcastlean,connolly supports manu,and is a safc raider!.
newcastleian1, impact is'nt a Sunderland fan, he's a bloke who wears his mams clothes and comes on here because he's got no friends
newcastle 68,not just ashley,he was sucked in,its the whole rotten business,and that includes the players who take your money home in wheelbarrows.
imp..your spot on mate,you have been where we are now,and it breaks your bleeding heart,but it is like a drug,in the blood,and you feel it is your duty to go,blind loyalty!!and that t..t ashley has just shamed and took the piss out of us!!
why do you mackems never argue about,crowds,europe,that you were the worst team in history...sorry 2nd worst,premier league history,or why you have played in the championship so many times,it is because you have no arguement!!you can only bang on about us being relegated,you are like the annoying little kid at school who wont f..k off,no matter where we are we will always look down on you lot!!
newcastle 64,thats more like it mate,youll,e get respect for that,as a supporter you have been let down big time,but the real truth is only now being exposed,how do you feel about that,because this is the state of the game at present and highlights the abuse that so called clubs,clubs that were originally set up by ordinary people like yourselves,have now imposed on the paying customer!.
toonrdoon,an absolute screamer,gets better and better,a bonus for being relegated,hang on mate,and thats with the fans cash,WOW fu-ckin Wow,what will they not put up with at toontown.
imp...your right mate we must be idiots watching that last season,but like i say we always show up!
imp..you mentioned it 1st!
hutch 58,you said it.
newcastle 56 loyal idiots,taken for a ride.
a mackem wrote to newcastle fanzine true faith saying the mackems were after revenge for gillingham play off 87,and they were coming to the fulham game?......i think his scooter broke down.
heyup newcastle,you seem to have men and boys on the brain.
Imp - you're hilarious mate. The laughter must be non stop in that bedsit of yours.
imp...nothing to say so you copy...clever boy?? do you fancy men as well??
imp...we put up with it because we are loyal supporters,unlike you lot(38.000 v boro)whats all that about boys(not 2 for 1 that day??)saint quinny has said you might need a bigger stadium(no you cant share ours) try gateshead,although i doubt you would fill that!
Whata beaut!! The Doon (whoever owns them) have to pay the players bonuses for getting the club relegated!! LOL or what? I hope Duff was paid double, given that it was he who hammered the final nain it the coffin! It just gets better and better. 100% laughing stock. Can I propose that Mike Ashley is knighted and given the freedon of the City of Sunderland? He's a clearly a Mackem in disguise, bet he's really slim and good-looking under his fat and ugly suit!!
well said,well said, well said.yahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
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