MYSTERY still surrounds the future of Bromsgrove Rovers just days before the new season kicks off.

The club's directors gave major shareholder Stuart Arnold a deadline of 4pm on Friday to tell the chairman in writing what he plans to do with his stake in the club.

Arnold said yesterday he had not been officially told of any deadline.

He added: "I only heard about it during a private conversation."

The former chairman said he had spoken to director Tom Herbert and the offer he made to sell him his shares three weeks ago was still on the table.

In June, Arnold gave the power of attorney over his shares to two Birmingham businessmen, David O'Grady and David Barnwell, and they had planned to take over the club.

Rovers chief executive Pat Bannister told the Advertiser/Messenger that the club's solicitors had informed Arnold's lawyers about the deadline and they said they would pass the details on to him.

Bannister added: "We want to be told in writing who he plans to sell to.

"We can't run the club properly if we don't know what's going to happen next.

"The big kick-off is approaching and no-one knows what the future holds for Bromsgrove Rovers."