Southampton staff are bracing themselves for the possibility that today’s match at Nottingham Forest could be the last in Saints’ 124-year history. They have been warned of a “real risk” of not getting paid this month because no buyer has yet been lined up for the stricken Championship club.

Mark Fry, of administrators Begbies Traynor, said last week that he was in talks “with several buyers” who, if they survive, will start next season in League One on minus-10 points. It is believed that none of three “serious” potential buyers, having shown proof of funds for a takeover, has tabled a firm offer.

Southampton pay staff on the third Thursday of each month, and about £500,000 in salaries is due to be paid on Thursday, May 21. However, the club has no money, and with no more home matches and no season-ticket income while the future remains uncertain, the club will cease to exist unless new cash is injected. Southampton’s debts include £23.7m owed to Norwich Union arising from the construction of St Mary’s, £4m owed to Barclays bank, £2m to the Inland Revenue, plus an estimated £2m to agents and various suppliers.

The club’s only saleable assets are a small group of players who could, theoretically, be offloaded to raise funds and buy time. These include 21-year-old striker David McGoldrick, England under-21 midfielder Andrew Surnam (22), Adam Lallana (20), French under-19 international midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin (19) and striker Nathan Dyer (21).