Reading have issued their latest update on the ongoing ownership crisis, and it will not please supporters.
Despite being up for sale for over 500 days, the club is still in the clutches of Dai Yongge, who has been unable, or opted not to, funding the club sufficiently for over a year.
Surviving month-to-month, even selling players to assist with the paying of bills, the club have confirmed that no party is close to taking over.
In fact, no party is even in exclusive negotiations as of time of writing.
This comes five months on from former Wycombe Wanderers chief Rob Couhig sitting hours away from completion and as the American is locked in a bitter legal dispute with Mr Yongge over broken exclusivity agreements and loss of earnings.
Holding back their monthly update to supporters until after last night's 11pm transfer deadline, the club have said: "The club can confirm exclusivity with the buyer cited previously has now expired.
"Discussions with alternatives are underway with the focus remaining to sell to a buyer who has the intent and resource to take the club forward. Several credible bidders have declared interest, some with experience in navigating football transactions, and the club are working with all relevant stakeholders to agree terms at the earliest opportunity.
"Whilst the club acknowledges the previously failed transactions are disappointing for everyone, especially our supporters, it is anticipated the legal and due diligence work completed so far will prove advantageous when trying to move new bids forward.
"Despite funding concerns last month, the club can confirm HMRC and staff wages were fulfilled on time with Mr Dai contributing funds towards this."
The sale of Sam Smith to Wrexham should cover the club for the immediate future, but pressure remains on a sale to secure the medium and long-term future of the 154-year old institution.
