The race to buy Chelsea has intensified, with a shortlist of bidders being drawn up by US bank Raine Group.
Candidates began to be informed on Thursday if they would be advanced to the next stage of the process, with the Saudi Media-led consortium one of the most high profile bids to be rejected.
But leading contenders Sir Martin Broughton, the Ricketts family and Todd Boehly still appeared to be in the running as others fell away.
Nick Candy, Woody Johnson and Aethel Partners are also believed to have had their bids rejected.
Bidders have been left guessing by Raine for much of the process and have heard little since last Friday’s deadline for official offers.
They still do not know if a shortlist will be publicly announced.
But on Thursday it was the unsuccessful candidates who discovered their fate first.
Broughton, the Ricketts family and Boehly were among those waiting for confirmation late into the night as news filtered out about rejected bids.
Friday is now believed to be the day when a shortlist of as many as four will be finalised.
