While I am not one for engaging in salacious tittle-tattle, I have enough faith in one or two contacts to report on the ongoing rumours surrounding the club’s ownership.

The Express & Star didn’t appear unduly excited by reports that Spaniard Julen Lopetegui will be our next coach, reporting that the club has ‘categorically rubbished’ the link, as well as talk of a new Chinese billionaire owner in Robin Li.

Far from categorically rubbishing claims myself, I am told that there is such mileage in both rumours that an announcement will be made as soon as next week on both scores.

Indeed, respected Spanish football journalist, broadcaster and author Guillem Balague has just tweeted to say Lopetegui will be installed ‘sometime next week if all is agreed’, before going on to give an account of the way his teams like to play. Exciting times.

In addition, Spanish newspapers Marca and AS are both reporting news of an imminent Lopetegui arrival and they seldom pin their colours to a mast unless they’re sure of the source.

One of my two sources has been saying that a big change was imminent for months, going on alleged information from inside the club.

Then, on June 19, I received a message adding some more meat to the bones, from the second source.

It stated: ‘Richard Skirrow and Rita Purewall from the accounts department met at a London hotel with a Chinese businessman called Mr Li. The accounts department have been putting together information for him. These were extra projections which is ‘out of the ordinary’ and they were told that it’s nearly at an end.’

Following on from this, I have just received a message off my first source who was so adamant that big changes would be made.

He has just tweeted: ‘Definitely true. Both announcements could be made next week.’

The only discrepancy in the two rumours from my contacts is that both, at completely different times of the year, claimed that David Moyes would be our next manager.

That we are supposedly about to sign up an ex-Porto manager of some repute instead might perversely add credence to the Moyes claim. I.E we are genuinely looking at a big name to move us forward. Maybe just not the name of the Scotsman.

We shall see what happens in the coming days. But with the cat being let out of the bag by more than one source, I thought it only right to share what I have been told in recent weeks.

With that in mind – and the credibility of the people I have been speaking to – there is more than a hint of truth in these accounts. An announcement expected next week, I am told.