The future of Chinese champions-elect Shenzhen Jianlibao has been thrown further into doubt after it was announced that a Beijing-based consortium has taken over the club's parent company, soft drink maker Guangdong Jianlibao.
Huizhong Tianheng Investment, in conjunction with Northern Hengtai, has taken control of Jianlibao after buying of 91.1 per cent of the company's shares.
The deal was announced in Guangzhou and came as surprise to most observers, who were amazed by the speed of the negotiations.
'I felt relieved that we finally find a credible buyer for Jianlibao,' said Zhang Hai, the 30-year-old former chairman and majority shareholder of the company, who also headed the board of directors of Shenzhen Jianlibao Football Club.
Zhang was forced to resign in August after being heavily criticised for going massively over budget in assembling a stellar cast for his club, including national team captain Li Weifeng and stars like Zheng Zhi, Li Yi and Yang Chen.
However the team, sitting eight points clear on the top of the Chinese Super League standings and needing only two more points with three matches left to clinch the city's first league title despite not having been paid since May, do not appear any more secure for the takeover.
'Our first goal is to save Jianlibao Group, then help it to survive by itself,' Huizhong Tianheng board director Li Zhida was quoted as saying by sinosoc.com. 'Football is not in our plans. So maybe the future CSL club will be sold.'