Wolves are likely to have at least two other groups planning to make their pitch for control of the club by the weekend.

And that will throw a major obstacle in the way of Graeme Souness’ hopes of bringing a swift conclusion to his bid for control at Molineux.

With Wolves one point off the play-offs, and the season still full of potential despite major financial pruning, Souness has indicated that speed is of the essence in any hand-over of power.

Having confirmed that there is money available for transfers, the man who would be Molineux’s new chairman would be willing to give manager Mick McCarthy funding to drive home the team’s encouraging first half of the season.

But that would call for a rapid sequence of events which appears even more remote with the revelation that Souness does not have the field to himself.

The club is understood to have staged preliminary discussions with a second party who carry the potential to inject even bigger funds into Molineux.

And a third party, currently at the crunch point of talks with other clubs about a takeover which will be decided by the weekend, has earmarked Wolves as a back-up project for immediate contact in the likely event of those deals breaking down.

It paints a picture of increasing competition for future ownership which serves Wolves better than it does Souness.

And there is also another option gaining momentum – to stay on the current course. For the first time since Sir Jack began bank-rolling Wolves 17 years ago, the club are enjoying success from bargain players and some senior Molineux figures feel a takeover would be a de-stabilising force.