LEGAL representatives from the various parties are continuing to work frantically in an attempt to reach agreement over Yorkshire's bid to buy Headingley cricket ground.

Further talks were being held today as Yorkshire and their landlords, Leeds Cricket Football and Athletic Company, attempt to re-negotiate parts of the deal.

Leeds City Council has already stated that if an agreement is concluded before the county club's special general meeting on Christmas Eve then the council's executive board could meet at some stage next week to decide if it is prepared to hand over a loan to Yorkshire of £9m.

But now there is a chance that if a deal is done quickly, the council may even meet on Friday, leaving Yorkshire members formally to approve the loan and the purchase of the ground the following day.

Time is running out for Yorkshire who need to buy the ground by December 31, otherwise the England and Wales Cricket Board have said they will scrap the 15-year agreement to stage international cricket at Headingley until 2015.

Solicitors acting for Yorkshire, Leeds CFAC, the ECB, Sport England and Leeds City Council have all been working hard to try to resolve outstanding issues since the council last week delayed for a second time any decision over the loan.

Updated: 09:47 Tuesday, December 20, 2005