Derby County are set for some pre-Christmas anguish after a deadline for a takeover passed without a buyer being found.
And the man who looked most likely to purchase the club, Chris Kirchner, has now hinted that he may pull out of the process altogether.
The Championship side are in administration and are sitting bottom of the division. The club received two separate points deductions and are currently 17 points adrift of safety.
The club's administrators had said earlier this week that they were hopeful of making an announcement on sale this week.
But that will not now be the case.
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Joint administrator Carl Jackson, said: "The joint administrators continue to have positive and fruitful discussions and negotiations with interested parties but these are complex and require input and decisions from other stakeholders.
"Despite our best intentions, it is now unlikely any announcement will be made pre-Christmas as to the preferred bidder.
"As soon as we are able to name the preferred bidder then we will do so.
"We understand and respect the frustrations of all involved in Derby County Football Club and in particular the supporters, that quicker progress has not been made but we want to reassure all those stakeholders that we are trying to go as quickly as possible."
American businessman Kirchner, who is one of three prospective buyers, posted on social media that there had been "little to no progress" over the past 40 days.
Responding to a Derby supporter, Kirchner wrote: "Frustration. Little to no progress in last 40 days.
"We submitted an offer committing over £60M initially over the next two years to turn things around on Dec 9 and have had very little engagement.
"I’m discussing with my team whether we continue."
Kirchner has previously visited Derby in the flesh, taking in a handful of games and also talking to manager Wayne Rooney. Rooney has previously given his backing to Kirchner, saying: "He has got some really good ideas and as long as everything is right for the club I can see it being a real positive."
But the latest setback has left Rooney, and Derby fans, frustrated once more, and could be the last straw for Kirchner.
"It’s vital we get it done as soon as possible," said former England and Manchester United star Rooney, who was speaking ahead of Derby's next match against high-flying West Bromwich Albion on December 27.
"January is just around the corner and from my point of view it (takeover) needs to be done before then because it’s the future of this football club we’re looking at.
"I know the administrators are working very hard to get it done and obviously it’s so important we get it done before January.
“I’m not saying I want to bring in 15 players but I need to make sure that we can sort out the players here who we want to keep. Obviously if we can strengthen then we will do that but there are things with players already here that need to be sorted.”
