Former elected mayor Martin Winter this week denied that he was about to take control of the cash-strapped club.

But it emerged that he is helping a consortium of local business people formulate a three-year rescue package.

According to Marshall, administrators were yesterday still to receive any formal offers to buy the Dons - a stalemate which is becoming increasingly frustrating for fans still fearful about the long-term
future of the club.

But the former Dons commercial manager said that patience is the key.

Marshall said: "It's frustrating for everybody, not just the fans.

"Everybody involved wants something to happen as soon as possible.

"But things like this are never straightforward and they don't happen overnight.

"It's going to take time - and it's just a case of people having to be patient.

"Until any sort of formal offer is made you just can't put a timescale on things."

According to Marshall, administrator Jeremy Bleazard - who was unavailable for comment - this week responded to a request for information from a local business consortium who met on Monday night to discuss their possible bid - a forum chaired by Mr Winter.

But no formal offer for the club has been received.

The business consortium, which has held discussions with the Rugby Football League, is said to be "very serious" about supporting Doncaster and committed to a three-year funding package.

The Dons went into administration four weeks ago when they were declared insolvent by XL Business Solutions.

Meanwhile, director of rugby Carl Hall says the Co-operative Championship's bottom club will continue its recent recruitment drive in a bid to improve results - after conceding 70-plus points in successive defeats to Batley and Sheffield.

Young full back Tom Griffiths was last night expected to put pen to paper on a one month loan deal from Huddersfield Giants.

And Hall said the coaching staff would be running the rule over several more trialists in the coming weeks as the club begins to prepare for next season.

He told the Free Press: "We're trying as best as we possibly can to fulfil the fixtures and not embarrass ourselves like we have done the last two weeks.

"We're trying hard to strengthen.

"It's a difficult job but we're determined to give the fans something.

"We trialled Lisiate Tafa against Sheffield and it was obvious from his time on the park that he has something to offer us.

"He'll be out for a while after suffering a broken hand and thumb but we'll be doing our utmost to get him on board.

"We'll be having a look for more players over the next few weeks with one eye on next season.

"Of course, we have to work within constraints given the financial control of the club - but we are trying to be as competitive in the market as we possibly can."

Hall added that he would be in favour of revamping the club's current contract policy.

He said: "If I get my way we won't be offering players guaranteed contracts next year - but it all depends on what happens with the
takeover.

"At the moment players are on year-long contracts which mean they are paid off-season.

"What I want to introduce is a system where we pay 17 players on a win or lose match-by-match basis."