Despite an Oldham club source's optimism that Sunday's game will go ahead as planned, both the Oldham Chronicle and a Hornets spokesman have said that there will be no decision until tomorrow (Wednesday 19th Dec.)
With Sunday looming large on the horizon, Oldham and Ashton United are now working against the clock in a bid to get Tameside Council's approval to stage Sunday's derby clash at Hurst Cross.
Though an informal ground inspection took place yesterday, Roughyeds officials will still have to await confirmation at a meeting of safety experts at the council's offices on Wednesday 19th.
Roughyeds' chairman Chris Hamilton was at Hurst Cross yesterday (Monday) when council officials and representatives of the fire and ambulance services took a look at how essential safety work was progressing."
"Council officials were happy that work was getting done," he said.
"They planned to go back to Hurst Cross for another look today (Tuesday) and then there will be a meeting at Tameside Council offices tomorrow of all the relevant council officials and safety agencies.
"We have furnished them with all the information they needed from our end."
"Ashton United are working hard to get the work done. A fair amount has to be done, but much of it is cosmetic, like painting safety lines and work of that nature."
"Crush barriers also needed painting and a couple of them have had to be resited. Suffice to say that every day we are getting nearer."
Nearer to what remains unclear.