Barnsley aiming to be out of administration within the next two weeks

Speaking to a joint meeting of the Official Supporters Club and Supporters Society, Mr Ridsdale said: “The purpose of attending this meeting is very clear – to tell where we stand at the moment and what the future holds as far as we are concerned.

“It has been a frustrating process and it was our hope and plan to be in for a good pre-season and well before the new campaign. But we were not put off and are here now for the long haul.

“The fact of the matter is that we have not yet completed the takeover and that should be done before end of the month. Having said that it is our hope that it will be finalised during next week. The matter is still in the hands of the lawyers but we have seen a momentum gathering today that has not been there before.

“As soon as the takeover is complete the timeframe for coming out of administration is literally a couple of days. We have already done a lot of work with the FA, PFA and Football League and we do not have to present our case to a full League board meeting. The share is waiting for us in Preston and the League are satisfied with the draft paperwork we have already shown them.

The League are now waiting for us to demonstrate that we are fully in control before transferring the share.

“There has been a hold up but we now have the majority of the information we need so I do not envisage any further delays”.