One worried section of Aston Villa fans are still far from sold on the idea of American Randy Lerner as the new owner of their club.
All Villa chairman Doug Ellis has done by accepting Lerner's £62.6 million offer on Monday is effectively seal his own exit by starting the ball rolling in a bidding war by recommending it to the club's shareholders. But, with the rival consortia led by local businessman Michael Neville and deputy high court judge Nicholas Padfield QC each understood to be intending to top Lerner's offer, there are still clearly battles to be fought in a campaign that is not yet over.
And Villa fanzine Villa Matters is urging caution over the American bid, demanding Ellis to scrutinise all the bids being tabled and not make a hasty decision.
This is the first time in more than a generation that the chance to take control at Villa has become open to offers. And fanzine editor Trevor Fisher argues that, if it gets into the wrong hands, the consequences could be disastrous.
"The ownership battle will decide Villa's fate for years to come," said Fisher. "It is not obvious that the first bid must be accepted, and there is no need to close the options down.
"The principle 'marry in haste, repent at leisure' applies to the current situation. The Lerner bid is not the only one, and there are good reasons to think it may not be in the interests of the club.
"Most fans seem to think it is automatic that the bid will lead to more money and better leadership at the club. It is not automatic that this will happen.
"Randy Lerner may not be a Roman Abramovich. It is possible that, like the Glazers at Manchester United, finance may not be as readily forthcoming as fans think.
"The rumours that the American bid is fuelled by the intention to build a casino, or install gambling facilities short of a full casino facility are worrying. Villa are a family club. Is the link with gambling desirable? Would the cash go into the club, or back to America? Mr Lerner needs to make his intentions clear.
"It is proposed that a US General with Vietnam experience will be appointed chair along with other Americans.
"What links and commit-ment to the club will there be? What is the link between fighting the Vietcong and running an English football club?
"Doug Ellis was both a Villa fan and a man with great experience in English football. The proposed bid seems to lack both.
"Mr Lerner is clearly good at making money. But is he good at sporting institutions?
"In the last seven years, the Cleveland Browns have not been massively successful.
"They have not come top in either of the leagues they have played in and, in 1999 and 2000, came sixth out of six.
"Mr Lerner is also reported to be hostile to fan involvement. He must clarify what his record is in the sporting arena.
"The club needs an owner-ship set up which is clearly committed to football priorities in general and Aston Villa in particular. The owners need expertise in English football and top class sport, and have no intention of using the club as a cash cow."
It would take another bid of five per cent above Lerner's for it to be given consideration. And, already, there has been a r esponse, with Padfield believed to be close to putting together a £70 million package [2014] £7.4 million more than offered by American billionaire Lerner and accepted by the Villa board.
Padfield said: "This is by no means over. We are indefatigable in our efforts to secure the club because we have the club's interests at heart."
"We are not American, and want to fly the flag."
Although he has so far refused to name the people behind his consortium, he added: "While I'm not prepared to go into details, certainly we have billionaires."
While Villa's off-the-field future is still to be sorted, Celtic could hold the key in new manager Martin O'Neill's hope of making signings before the close of the August transfer window.
Both are involved in a four-club battle trying to take 30-year-old Danish midfielder Thomas Gravesen, who has been told he is no longer wanted by Real Madrid and is a vailable at a price of £2 million.
But, even if Villa missed out, that could still free up another O'Neill target, Bulgaria international Stilian Petrov, to leave Parkhead and move to the Midlands. n Republic of Ireland international midfielder Andy Reid has left Tottenham Hotspur for Premiership rivals Charlton Athletic.
The midfielder has signed a four-year deal with the Addicks in a deal which could be worth £3 million.
Reid, who has won 22 caps and scored three goals for his country, joined Spurs from Nottingham Forest in January, 2005 for £4 million.
He made 27 appearances while at White Hart Lane and scored one goal, against Aston Villa in May 2005.
