Just two weeks after Barry Hearn assured supporters he would keep bankrolling Leyton Orient through the credit crunch, he has told The Mirror he considers the club a "tediously expensive luxury" and wants rid of it.
The failure to sell the club to a consortium headed by David Beckham advisor Terry Byrne has pushed Hearn's patience to it's limit: "Orient is still reliant upon my cash on a daily basis. Without Matchroom Sports this club would not exist, and I've reached my sell-by date in terms of patience, constantly funding the club to keep it alive.
"When I took over I said I'd keep the club alive for 10 years. I've done 14. There does come a time when you look at yourself and ask, 'Am I crazy?' Obviously I'm crazy, but its a question of degrees."
But Hearn will at least wait for a deal that is right for the club: "I'm not doing a deal unless I believe it's in the best interests of Leyton Orient."
Since previously announcing his continued support for the club, Hearn has written to shareholders offering to take control of the stadium in exchange for the money he has ploughed into the club, and confirmed takeover talks the following morning.