Hamilton Accies have announced that negotiations over a change of ownership at the club are ongoing - as the current board admitted they made "countless mistakes" during last season's relegation.
The New Douglas Park club have also confirmed they will remain a full-time club in League One next season, safegaurding their Elite Youth Academy that produced the likes of James McCarthy and James McArthur in their Premiership heyday.
Current custodian Colin McGowan told Lanarkshire Live Sport last month that he is set to resign from the board and the club were looking to tie up a deal with new owners by June 14 (Wednesday), so the transfer would be complete in time for Accies pre-season kicking off.
And fans have been told an announcement on that "could well be imminent."
The club will be playing in the third tier of Scottish football next season after a second relegation in three years, and the board have today admitted culpability for their part in the SPFL Trust Trophy winners' difficult year in the league.
Coming three weeks after they lost to Airdrie in the Championship play-off final, a statement to fans from the board of directors read: "We would firstly like to apologise to our fans for the lack of information from the club.
"Like yourselves, the relegation was a bitter blow to everyone associated with Hamilton Accies.
"In a season where everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong, the board made countless mistakes, our management and football team could have and should have done better, we are aware that our 36-game campaign came up well short of protecting Championship football.
"So as Hamilton Accies Football Club prepares for League One football, a change of ownership could well be imminent, negotiations have been ongoing for some time now and hopefully there will be a positive announcement soon.
"The potential new owners have been working with the Board to ensure that everything is in place for the new 2023/24 campaign, talks are ongoing with existing players, their agents and potential new signings, and information should start to flow through in due course.
"We have appointed a new media officer, who will take control of all social media communications.
"At this point we are able to report that Hamilton Accies will remain a full time football club, with our Elite Youth Academy fully protected.
"We realise the frustrations of many of our supporters, although to get us back to where all want to be we must somehow find a way to totally unite – One Club, One Badge!"
Accies are set to return to New Douglas Park on Wednesday, June 21 for pre-season training and boss John Rankin says a number of players have committed to the club for next season.
He said: “Over the last few weeks I have been aware of ongoing talks at boardroom level, this has nothing to do with me or our plans for the forthcoming season.
“We have been working in due course to bring in new signings and strengthen the squad. We have held talks with a number of players, some of whom have already agreed to be a part of our journey and others who are still on holiday.
“Once everything is complete we will be excited to announce these players in due course and obviously with players coming in, some always go and some think other offers are more appealing and we wish them all the best for their future career.
“This is a time of transition for the club going forward and we ask everyone to come together and play their part in making us successful again.”
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