The administrators of Derby County have been given more time to prove how they will be funded for the rest of the season.
The English Football League wanted administrators to give them details by February.
Further talks with potential buyers will be allowed until the beginning of March.
Derby have been in administration since September and are currently in the bottom half of the table.
The development will allow the club to meet its obligations while giving a further four weeks to continue the discussions with the interested bidders and relevant stakeholders in respect of a sale, as well as providing additional time to seek clarity.
It is appreciated that many people have been waiting for an update over the last 48 hours but given the complexity and ever-changing circumstances, our priority has been to provide clarity once there is a definitive position.
Our commitment as ever remains addressing the many challenges at hand and we will look to provide updates as soon as possible.
Derby's financial rule has been claimed to have caused lost out by both Wycombe and Middlesbrough.
The Chairboys would have stayed up last season if the cases against Derby had not been brought.
The administrators are worried that the club could face the threat of insolvency if a deal is not reached.
A group including former Rams chairman Andy Appleby is thought to be preparing a fresh offer which would include the purchase of the club, after the Binnie family from the US submitted a 28 million bid last Friday.
Following his sale of the Magpies last October, former owner Mike Ashley is considering a bid.
Wayne Rooney is trying to keep the club in League One despite the possibility of more players leaving.
Phil Jagielka, Dylan Williams and Graeme Shinnie have left to join other teams, while they couldn't agree on a new contract.
Goalkeepers David Marshall and Jordan Brown have left this month to join other teams.
Tom Lawrence is the captain of Bournemouth, who are trying to return to the premier league.
Simon Stone is a reporter.
Even though there was never a chance of Derby County going out of business, this news will take some of the heat out of the situation.
The date was put in place to get clarity over funding and establish a cash position at the club, not a hard stop if resolutions were impossible.
Derby will get through to the end of the season through player sales or external loans, according to conversations I have had over the past 48 hours.
Establishing a preferred bidder is one of the key issues, as well as having meaningful dialogue with the other two counties over their outstanding compensation claims that threaten to land Derby with a 60 million bill.
Mel Morris, the former owner of Derby, is likely to be involved in further discussions about the Pride Park stadium.
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