The English Football League (EFL) has provided a further update on the future of troubled Derby County.
Administrators at the crisis-hit Rams were given a deadline of March 1 to provide proof that they could fund the club until the end of the season.
That was an extension on the original deadline but after seemingly hearing nothing back by the second date, the EFL released a statement on Wednesday saying that the "very future" of Derby remained under threat amid a lack of clarity.
Now, the league have offered a further update in which they say administrators Quantuma have provided a forecast showing that the Championship club have "sufficient cash" to take them through until the end of the existing campaign.
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The EFL statement said: "At its meeting today (Thursday) the EFL Board considered the latest information provided by Quantuma (Derby County Administrators), including their forecast which showed the club has sufficient cash to trade until the end of the season.
"It is clear that there are still a number of challenges to be dealt with by the administrators as they work to confirm the preferred bidder status and exit the club out of Administration."
It is claimed that Quantuma made contact with the EFL on Wednesday, after the league had issued its previous statement.
In that, the EFL said it "remains deeply concerned at the lack of any form of substantial progress in respect of the outstanding matters affecting the club. Despite requesting an update almost 48 hours ago, there has been no communication from the administrators with correspondence and calls from the EFL going unanswered.
"As a result, the EFL still has no further information on the preferred bidder status or evidence of funding until the end of the season and has advised the Administrators that the lack of progress on these two critical issues, amongst others, is threatening the very future of Derby County Football Club."
Derby remain on the search for a new buyer, having been in administration since last September.
Former Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is among those linked with a takeover.
On the pitch, Wayne Rooney's side are eight points adrift of safety in the Championship - partly thanks to the huge 21-point deduction that is a result of entering administration and a breach of accounting policies.
After a purple patch of results earlier in the winter Derby have hit the buffers once more, losing four of their last five outings.
Following the latest setback, a 1-0 loss away at Cardiff City on Tuesday night, Rooney was critical of some of the refereeing decisions his side have been on the end of in recent weeks.
"Are decisions being made against us because of the situation we are in? I need to ask that question because that's what it feels like," Rooney told BBC Derby.
"Referee decisions I felt all game were not good enough. Fourth official - a lack of respect in how he speaks to you.
"No-one wants us in the Championship next season. That's been clear all season. We've had our punishment, but ultimately, I think, the real punishment is going to League One.
"We've exceeded a lot of people's expectations and it's caused issues."
