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Hull City owners Assem and Ehab Allam no longer expect to conclude a takeover before the turn of the year after arriving at an impasse in their attempts to sell to a consortium led by former chairman Paul Duffen.

The Allam family made their intentions clear to leave the KCOM Stadium before Christmas as far back as September but those hopes have now been dashed after making little or no progress over recent weeks.

A group fronted by Duffen has always been considered the frontrunners in talks and completed a period of due diligence last month.

That was expected to lead to the Allams handing over control but Duffen’s consortium has not yet been in a position to complete.

Sources close to the deal insist talks are ongoing but, perhaps tellingly, it is understood City’s owners are exploring alternative options as they begin a ninth year of ownership today.

A failure to conclude a deal with Duffen and his backers would lead the Tigers back to square one in the search for new owners.

City have previously claimed “numerous” suitors had declared an interest in buying the club but the consortium fronted by Duffen represented the best hope for a takeover.

Non-disclosure agreements were signed as far back as September and there was also a period of exclusivity that expired on October 1. Duffen held regular talks with the Allam family in the weeks that followed and even joined vice chairman Ehab Allam on a trip to Italy.

The lack of progress in recent weeks has triggered misgivings among the Allam family and it is understood they are now keeping options open as they revive the search for new owners in 2019.

Extending the current state of uncertainty into January is unlikely to help head coach Nigel Adkins.

The City boss had been hoping for clarity ahead of the transfer window but he looks set to enter a crucial spell unsure of his budget.

Only limited funds have been made available by the Allam family in the last two windows and that approach is unlikely to change if they remain at the helm throughout next month.

City’s need for a fresh start was also demonstrated by a record low crowd for Saturday’s 2-0 win over Brentford.

Despite the current run of form lifting the Tigers up to 17th in the Championship table, just 10,530 supporters were at the KCOM Stadium.

Not since City left Boothferry Park behind 16 years ago has a crowd that low been attracted to a league game and among the chants on Saturday were the now customary calls for the current owners to sell up.

The Allam family, who assumed control of City on this day in 2010, first put the club up for sale in April 2014 after a bid to rebrand as Hull Tigers was rejected by the Football Association.

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