As previously reported, a consortium led by club president John Palmer, has put a deal on the table in the hope of bringing Celtic out of administration.

But Farsley's administrator, accountancy firm Mazars, has now confirmed it has received a second offer for the Blue Square North outfit.
Details of the party behind the rival bid are not being made public by Mazars.

Mr Palmer, however, believes the offer is for Celtic's Throstle Nest ground and the surrounding land rather than the club itself.

That raises the prospect of football continuing at Throstle Nest but no longer at a semi-professional level.

The YEP understands council planning bosses would almost certainly block any application by a new owner for permission to turn the entire site over for development.

Mr Palmer says he expects Mazars to choose between the two offers in early 2010 – possibly as soon as Celtic's home game against Stafford Rangers on January 9.

Founded in 1908, Farsley went into administration in June after running into financial difficulties on the back of three expensively-acquired promotions in four seasons.

They came within hours of closure in September before Mr Palmer agreed a last-gasp rescue deal with Mazars.

But that deal foundered in the face of reported opposition from Celtic's main creditor, HM Revenue and Customs, and since then the club has been in limbo.

Recently-approved plans for a property development on land that Celtic own behind Throstle Nest are unlikely to start generating major income for the club for some time yet.

The development would comprise 14 houses but would leave the first-team pitch untouched.