Derby County's former owner Mel Morris and Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson have finally opened talks over Boro's legal claim against the Rams, Sportsmail understands.
Discussions have been taking place this week, ahead of Derby's trip to Teesside to face Middlesbrough on the pitch in their Championship fixture at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.
Security has been heightened for that fixture, after the status of the game was raised to the highest risk level amid fears that emotions could spill over in what is expected to be a volatile atmosphere. Special measures have reportedly been put in place to protect Gibson.
Derby's future hangs in the balance with compensation claims against the club, lodged by Middlesbrough and Wycombe Wanderers a major impediment to any takeover.
The Rams have been in administration since September. There are three interested parties waiting to step in as the preferred bidder, but they are unwilling to do so while a £40M claim by Middlesbrough and £6M claim from Wycombe remain unresolved.
Tensions are high among Rams fans, who consider Middlesbrough's position as the biggest threat to their club's survival. Derby have sold their allocation of 2,131 tickets for the Riverside and sensibly, Derby supporters are urging each other to moderate their behaviour before, during and after the game. The vast majority are determined to hold on to the moral high ground as they campaign to save their club.
A week ago, former Derby owner Mel Morris invited Middlesbrough and Wycombe to take their compensation claims to the High Court against him personally.
Morris' intervention raised hopes that the blockage would be removed and the process of bringing Derby out of administration could begin in earnest.
However, since then fans have been left in limbo – again. But sources involved in efforts to save Derby County told Sportsmail talks have been ongoing this week.
'Gibson and Morris are talking,' said one. 'Everyone is aware there is a big game on at Middlesbrough. If it is going to be sorted it would be good to sort it before then.
'With the game coming up there is some hope a conclusion might be reached to move the process on.
'Nothing can happen on preferred bidders until Middlesbrough is sorted.'
All parties are painfully aware that there is an increase in violence and misbehaviour around football matches this season and security at the match has been the subject of discussions among the clubs, police and the league.
Meanwhile, it is understood that a meeting held yesterday between the administrators, Quantuma, local MPs, councillors and officials, did not reveal any breakthrough.
'Everything is riding on Morris and Gibson,' said one source. 'If that does not work, we are back to square one and possibly back to the courts.'
Under Morris' leadership Derby racked up huge debts and breached EFL financial rules in a desperate bid to reach the Premier League.
The Rams have been punished with a 21-point reduction for both going into administration and breaking the rules.
However, Boro and Wycombe claim they lost out on the play-offs and surviving relegation due to Derby's financial rule breaches.
The EFL has told Derby's administrators both claims must be treated as 'football-related debts', which means if proven they have to be paid in full. The parties interested in buying Derby, which includes former chairman Andy Appleby, the wealthy, US-based Binnie family and former Newcastle owner, Mike Ashley, are not prepared to proceed in those circumstances.
It is unclear how Morris and Gibson might resolve their dispute, or how much progress, if any, has been made between the warring parties.
However, it does not necessarily end in court as Morris proposed. It may be that Morris indemnifies Derby's future owners against the outcome of any claim, or the pair may reach a settlement, which involves a compensation payment, or a payment to charity.
'It is not about the money now, it is about face saving,' said one source.
Meanwhile, Derbyshire Police will send two football liaison officers to Teesside on Saturday, which is in line with usual procedures.
The Telegraph has reported security and policing will be beefed up inside the stadium. And Boro have ensured all seats behind the director's box in the West Stand, where Gibson will be sat, are only available to home supporters with a previous booking history in an effort to protect the club's owner from abuse at close quarters.
Derby currently sit in 23rd position in the Championship, four points from safety. Middlesbrough are in seventh, level on points with Nottingham Forest, who are sixth.