CITY’s proposed takeover is by no means a done deal, the Telegraph & Argus understands.

Yesterday’s release of cheaper season-ticket prices was viewed in some quarters as a farewell gesture to the fans from joint owners Mark Lawn and Julian Rhodes.

But the T&A is led to believe that Gianni Paladini’s bid for a 100 per cent buy-out of the club is still some way off completion.

If it were to go through, it is unlikely to happen before the end of May at the earliest. His period of exclusivity, which prevents the club talking to other interested parties, is expected to run until that time.

The Italian was informed but did not have any say in the pricing structure for the new season-tickets – which have seen adult prices drop by £50 to £149.

Season-tickets have been announced much later than usual, suggesting the takeover talks might have been a factor, but Rhodes explained the hold-up was down to the ultimately unsuccessful push for the play-offs.

He said: “We were going through various schemes and prices and it probably would have been different if we had been in a higher division. That’s why we waited to the end of the season.

“We told Gianni (about the season-ticket prices) out of courtesy the day before they came out.”

Valley Parade season tickets are now expected to be the cheapest in League One. Last term, only Fleetwood offered a lower price at £175 – and that was for a specific area of the ground.

Rhodes has been delighted with the public’s enthusiastic reaction to the latest cut-price offer. City have set a target of 15,000 season-ticket and flexi-card sales but he believes that can be beaten.

Rhodes added: “We’ve taken a few people by surprise by reducing prices but we want to increase crowds, not decrease them, while maintaining a healthy budget for the manager.

“We hoped the fans would be pleased. Let’s hope that translates into sales and the 15,000 target proves to be conservative.

“Wouldn’t it be great if we had crowds pushing 20,000 for next season.”