*****THIS ISN'T OFF SMUG/RIV*****
It's also just a bit of a rumour and I can't say if it's true or not but you can make your own minds up. I'm not ITK or passing this one as 100% truth
"I've been told to ignore rumours its off and that its very much still on."
With that in mind Donald's tweet has me confused tbh.
I've got a theory. Just a theory based on messages we've both had and on Donalds tweets:
We've been told (and its it's on main board so I'm not breaking any confidences) that the issue is partly to do with them being anxious about the level of debt some clubs get into while chasing the PL (some other big clubs included). I admit it would surprise me that they bid without knowing all of this but let's run with it.
Now all of a sudden we hear it's off but Donald is on saying still hopeful but being very careful to say investment all the time, not takeover or similar.
So how about this idle speculation: they wanted to buy the club outright. They agreed a price. For whatever reason they've now got cold feet because of the potential costs involved. They decide to walk away.
Donald can't afford to lose them so he tries to keep them involved. Not as owners, but by offering a much smaller stake, not unlike what Sartori has.
So Donald gives them the chance to be involved and to invest, but not massively, not enough to be concerned about huge debts, just enough for Donald to believe he can get us at least out of this league and hopefully do well in the league above (whether he's capable is a different argument). They have very little risk. If Donald does well they take over fully. Costs them a bit more but with much less risk. Donald benefits because he gets to stay for now, doesn't have to deal with the fallout if they walk, and might get more money from them later.
Whether they'd accept is anyone's guess but it could be why he is mentioning investment, saying it's possible but not sounding certain. It makes as much sense as anything else I can think of tbh