ON June 29 Wasps announced that contracts had finally been exchanged after months of negotiations regarding the ownership of the club.

Completion was expected within days but days became weeks and weeks became months and the deal, which will see Ken Moss take over the running of the club from Steve Hayes, is still not done on the eve of the new season.

With fans beginning to worry, the club has moved to issue a holding statement in an attempt to assuage fears.

Mark Rigby said: “As we approach the first game of the season, it is an important time to assure all of our supporters and stakeholders of the on-going nature of the sale process behind the scenes.

“As communicated in recent months, terms were agreed on the sale earlier this summer but it is fair to say that there have been some complex financial issues to resolve since that time which has prolonged the process much longer than anyone involved would have liked; but such is the nature of this transaction.

“I am pleased to say that we are nearing the end of the process now and we anticipate that we will complete imminently and a further statement will be issued at that time.”