Southampton’s future remains in the balance after staff at the south coast cub were informed they have not been paid this month.

Saints administrators called staff in for a meeting yesterday morning and asked them to carry on working for another week as a ‘goodwill gesture’ as they continue to look for a buyer.

Joint-administrator Mark Fry is continuing in his efforts to sell the stricken club, with latest reports suggesting there are four interested parties.

Saints were also hoping to complete the transfer of winger Nathan Dyer to Swansea, with a fee of around £400,000 going towards keeping the club running, but as yet no deal has been struck.

The club’s parent company, Southampton Leisure Holdings plc, was placed in administration by former chairman Rupert Lowe at the start of April.

Fry warned at the time that unless a buyer was found quickly, the club were likely to go bust.

Southampton were also docked 10 points by the Football League, which will come into effect next season following their relegation to League One.

Fry will hold a further meeting with staff next Friday, by which time he is hopeful of having some positive news regarding the sale of the club.

He said: “I am confident that we are very close to entering into an exclusivity arrangement with one of the interested parties.”

The Echo, meanwhile, was yesterday unable to contact Cherries co-owner Paul Baker for an update on the club’s takeover talks or any other off-field issues.