The deal to take Hearts into fan ownership is likely to be concluded before the year is out.
Foundation of Hearts Chairman Stuart Wallace says he'd like the shares to be transferred before the end of 2020 – but says we're looking at the "next few months" rather than the "next few weeks" as a possible timeframe.
The fan group is poised to take control of the Tynecastle club from Ann Budge, having paid the remaining £100,000 required to complete the purchase earlier this year.
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The shares were due to be transferred this summer, but this has been put on hold due to the coronavirus crisis.
When asked when the deal might happen, Wallace told Edinburgh Live: "It's not going to be in the next few weeks. More likely the next few months. I've said that I'd like to see it happen in 2020.
"We wanted to have a big celebration when it was completed. What we might need is for that celebration to happen at a later date.."
He added: "The £2.4 million has been settled, and the final instalment of £100,000 was paid earlier this year. We're ready to take control of the club.
"The only thing that has stopped the transfer is COVID."
Edinburgh Live reported this week how the Foundation of Hearts had seen more than 1000 new pledges, pledge increases and one-off donations since Scottish football was shut down in March.
They now have more than 8000 monthly pledges paying in more than £125,000 to the club each month.
News emerged this week that US businessman Foster Gillett, son of former Liverpool co-owner George Gillett, had expressed an interest in buying the club.
However both Budge and Wallace rejected the offer, with the Foundation of Hearts chief telling Edinburgh Live that the takeover wouldn't even be legally possible right now.
He said: "We can't control who approaches us, and we're obviously not interested for a number of reasons. We were approached by a third party, via email. I discussed it with Ann [Budge] and we dismissed it right away.
"Not only is there no desire to look at the offer, but there's a legally binding contract in place to transfer the club to the fans – so it simply wouldn't be possible anyway."
