Archibald Airdrie deal stalls

Airdrie's squad has dwindled to three playing staff

Steve Archibald's bid to take over as owner of Airdrie has stalled once more.

The former Scotland striker believed a deal would go ahead on Monday.

But negotiations with provisional liquidator, Blair Nimmo, of accountants KPMG are still on-going, with no immediate announcement expected.

Talks between the two parties have been protracted and, at times, bitter, with conflicting statements being issued from both sides.

Archibald is confident

Archibald had told a Sunday newspaper he had agreed terms "with all the preferential creditors".

He expressed confidence that he would be at the helm after meeting Blair Nimmo.

The former Barcelona star told the Sunday Herald he did not anticipate any further delays after having had a succession of bids rejected by KPMG.

Archibald said: "Hopefully by Monday we'll see a major development. I'm confident it will come my way.

"I'm meeting some people this weekend who are going to be involved in the club."

If a deal is to be done in the near future, the new owner will have a little over a month to get a club with only three players currently on its books back on the rails before the beginning of the new league season.

Blair Nimmo is in talks with Archibald

KPMG released 27 players on 14 June in an attempt to reduce the club's running costs.

Archibald has around eight Spanish players lined up to join the club, but he will also be aiming to re-employ some of those previously released.

The much-travelled Scot had expressed frustration at the protracted nature of negotiations to take over the club.

He told the Sunday Herald: "I'm sick to the stomach with some of the people I've dealt with during this experience.

"It's hard to elaborate without getting myself in trouble. All I'll say is that there are a lot of hypocrites behind the scenes in football."