9.06am Scunthorpe United release a statement saying that Nigel Adkins and Andy Crosby have agreed personal terms with Southampton to replace Alan Pardew. They stress that compensation has not yet been agreed between the two clubs.
10.09 Little over an hour later, doubts begin to emerge. The Scunthorpe Telegraph ring Steve Wharton, the Iron chairman, to get his reaction to the news. He tells them the Saints had given Adkins an ultimatum of resigning from his role at Glanford Park by Wednesday night. "Nigel was not prepared to do that. He wanted to walk out of Glanford Park with his head held high and everything agreed. I was not prepared to roll over and let Nigel leave for nothing. I wanted some compensation for what I felt he was worth. It was only a modest amount," he tells them. He says he has been unable to speak to the Southampton chairman Nicola Cortese. Wharton also rings BBC Radio Humberside to say there has been a hitch.
10.30 Adkins is at the club's training ground, where he informs the first-team squad of the situation. He takes training as normal as the side prepare for Saturday's visit of Bristol City in the Championship. Around this time Southampton are talking to Eddie Howe, the Bournemouth manager. It is later revealed that he is offered the job but turns it down.
11.03 Wharton also spoke to the Press Association. "The latest I've heard is that Southampton have withdrawn their offer to Nigel," he says.
11.29 Wharton's quotes appear on Scunthorpe's official website under the headline "Southampton withdraw offer". All local media, including Iron-Bru.net, now believe Adkins is staying. Chris Sumpter, the Scunthorpe Telegraph's deputy sports editor, even appears on Sky Sports News.
12.45 Southampton release a statement defending the manner in which they have looked for a new manager, clearly in response to Wharton. "Contrary to some highly misleading comments, the club has made no ultimatums, has not made any approaches without appropriate permissions, and is fully aware that appropriate compensation payments become due where the candidate managers are currently under contract," they say.
3.24pm The Scunthorpe Telegraph have been down at Glanford Park, Steve Wharton has come out of an hour-long meeting with Adkins and Crosby but is reticent to comment on events to them. He does suggest he will "sleep on it".
3.45 Nigel Adkins speaks to members of the press at Glanford Park. He stresses he will not resign from his position, ensuring Scunthorpe are entitled to compensation, and says he is focused on preparing for Saturday's Championship game at home to Bristol City. Says he expects to take training again on Friday and that negotiations are ongoing. He says both clubs have acted impeccably, and says he has not been given any deadline by Southampton.
4.25 The end of the press conference brings headlines on BBC Radio Humberside, the Scunthorpe Telegraph and Iron-Bru.net making it clear that a move for Adkins is now likely.
5.02 The Dorset Echo report that Eddie Howe, the Bournemouth manager, has turned down Southampton. They say offer was made on Thursday, meaning the Saints had looked elsewhere after believing they had missed out on Adkins and Crosby.
5.29 A full recording of Adkins' press conference is posted on the Scunthorpe Telegraph website. (link)
6.30 BBC Radio Humberside's Sportstalk show is dominated by the Iron. David Burns, the station's sports editor, suggests Southampton wanted Adkins to resign before compensation was agreed, which he refused to do.
6.50 Eddie Mitchell, the Bournemouth chairman, tells Sky Sports News that Southampton had offered Howe the job on Thursday morning.
7.20 Iron-Bru have been running a poll since earlier in the day, asking if fans would be happy for Adkins to stay after talking to Southampton. By now, 93 per cent say they are.