Birmingham are at an advanced stage in discussions with a mystery Hong Kong party interested in a takeover of the Championship club.
The board of Birmingham International Holdings Limited (BIHL), City's parent company, today told the Stock Exchange they are in talks with two parties from Hong Kong and one from the UK - believed to be Gianni Paladini's Italian-backed consortium.
The former QPR chairman was understood to be leading the chase, although Blues' acting chairman Peter Pannu last week poured cold water on claims from Paladini that their takeover deal could be agreed within 10 days.
A statement from BIHL read: "As previously announced on September 21 and October 9, the board has been approached by several prospective buyers who had shown interest in the purchase of BCFC, which is the company's sole operating assets.
"Given the fact that confidential non-disclosure agreements had been entered into with three of the parties who are still in pursuit, two in Kong Kong and one in the United Kingdom, it is inappropriate to divulge detailed information of the status of the negotiations.
"The board wishes to inform the shareholders that the criteria that the board shall adopt in this disposal would be to identify a new owner who could take BCFC to the next level both in terms of their financial standing, business acumen and overall suitability and the nature of their offer and the overall terms of the offer.
"A balance will be struck between what is the most beneficial for the shareholders and what is the most appropriate for the development of BCFC as the board acknowledges that football is a business where, inter alia, the aspirations of the fans need to be considered."
The statement added: "The negotiation with one of the parties in Hong Kong is at an advanced stage although no conditional binding agreement has been entered into between the parties.
"The transaction, if it proceeds, will constitute a very substantial disposal transaction by the company under the listing rules and will be subject to the approval of the shareholders in a general meeting.
"A detailed announcement will be made as and when appropriate."
A first offer from Paladini's consortium, believed to be around ?25million, was rejected in September.
Meanwhile, current owner and Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung, who is currently unable to leave the Far East, will still face court on November 28 over alleged money laundering after today seeing a bid to delay the case rejected.
The Steelmen's impressive 5-1 win at Inverness last weekend took them up to fourth in the table but their healthy league position is no thanks to their home form.
Motherwell supporters have enjoyed only one victory in Lanarkshire this season, a 4-1 SPL win against Inverness in September, but McCall is looking for his players to improve that record against the Jambos.
"We scored three at Aberdeen and St Johnstone and two at Kilmarnock and Dundee, so we haven't had a problem scoring goals on our travels," he said.
"The performances at home have been similar to the away performances, it's just that we haven't got the first goal or scored when we have been on top.
"Looking back at games against Hibs, Dundee United and Dundee, we had excellent opportunities to take the lead but didn't, be it through bad finishing, good goalkeeping or decisions against us.
"But we know home results have not been good enough and we have got to look to change that.
"It's not as black and white as getting the first goal but it would certainly help, there is no doubt about that.
"I think we had 72 per cent possession against Dundee and chances and they break down the park and score and all of a sudden the crowd get a bit tense, the players get slightly anxious so it would be nice to go ahead in games at home.
"That wouldn't mean to say we would down tools and think it was all over because that wouldn't be the case, the games are that tight.
"Between us and Hearts three or four weeks ago, it was a 25-yard screamer that split the teams, there was nothing between the sides.
"So it would be nice to nick a 1-0 when it was a tight game."
McCall has begun to look towards next season in terms of his squad, "starting with the younger ones" but admits he does not yet know what budget will be available.
Chris Humphrey is one player who is out of contract in the summer but the 25-year-old Jamaica winger would be keen to extend his stay in Lanarkshire.
"If they want to sit down and talk to me, I would be happy to do that," said the former Shrewsbury Town player.
"But I haven't heard anything yet.
"I love the club. It's my fourth season here, I have kids and we are settled, so I would be quite happy to talk."
Pardew was manager at St Mary's for just over a year and led the club to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy title, as well as agonisingly close to the League One play-offs despite a 10-point deduction.
On Sunday the 51-year-old returns to Southampton for the first time since leaving the club in August 2010, with the hosts now a Premier League side once again thanks to back-to-back promotions under Adkins.
The Saints boss still uses several of the players brought in by the now Newcastle manager, but insists he does not having anything to thank him for.
"I don't think I owe him any debt [of gratitude] at all," Adkins said. "Whatever situation arose, he moved on. I am the manager of Southampton Football Club.
"We've just had back-to-back promotions, we're doing ever so well in our forward progression.
"We're trying to make sure the youngsters come through the system here at Southampton.
"To have James Ward-Prowse, Ben Reeves and now Luke Shaw into the first-team is very rewarding."
Southampton fans are expected to give Pardew a warm reception upon his return but Adkins will not be treating him differently to any other visiting manager.
"We always welcome the opposition manager, whoever it is, to St Mary's," he said. "When the whistle blows, then it is go to win a game of football.
"Afterwards we always invite them in for a drink. We've done that consistently. It doesn't matter who the manager is, that is what we've always done and what we will continue to do."
Southampton head into Sunday's match 19th in the Premier League but with a chance of jumping out of the relegation zone.
Saints will be looking to build on their victory last weekend at Loftus Road, where they condemned QPR, the only side below them, to an embarrassing 3-1 defeat.
The result proved the final straw for the west Londoners' hierarchy, who today sacked manager Mark Hughes and seem set to replace him with Harry Redknapp.
"We've lost a couple of managers in the Barclays Premier League this week and I don't think it matters if you're at the top of the bottom," Adkins said of the decision.
"Every position is going to be under scrutiny. That's a shame but the reality of being in this league."
Some had suggested in the build-up to last week's game that Adkins himself could have lost his job had the game gone the other way - suggestions the Saints boss today laughed off.
"I've had nothing but support from the chairman, Nicola Cortese," he said.
"We don't need to document anything about it. We've been very successful over the last couple of years.
"We are very demanding of each other but very supportive and I think that's the important thing.
"We have a stability here at Southampton. I think you have to demanding as that means you can keep raising the bar on standards throughout the football club.
"But you've got to be supportive as well and I think that's what we've got here."
Cooper spent six years at the helm of the Highland club between 1996 and 2002.
The ex-Aberdeen and Rangers player was most recently in charge at Hartlepool United, where he had a couple of spells as manager.
Adams was pleased to see Cooper back at the Dingwall outfit as part of a restructuring of the backroom team.
He told the club's website: "We've got an extremely small staff here at Ross County and it is vital that we have a structure in place and have the right people in place to take the players, team and indeed the club forward.
"Neale is someone that I've known for a number of years and having had him join us for a couple of days of training it was obvious his qualities complemented what we already had in place here, so I'm delighted that he's agreed to join us."
Cooper will be in the dugout for Saturday's match against Dundee United.
The visit of the Tayside club is the first of two back-to-back home fixtures for County, with St Mirren making the trip north midweek, and Adams is keen to make home advantage count.
He said: "We've been on our travels for eight out of 14 games in the SPL and we've got two home games now.
"Dundee United are a very good side. I watched them against Kilmarnock and they have excellent attacking players. We're in for an exciting match.
"The players here enjoy playing in the big occasions and we've done exceptionally well against Aberdeen and Hibs in the recent home games.
"United are a team who can cause any team problems on their day. They did well against Celtic recently as well.
"We're just looking to put the onus on Dundee United and hopefully we can come away with a win."
