KEY POINTS:
SkyCity Entertainment chairman Rod McGeoch has appointed two new directors as some investors hold out hope a buyout offer will be made next week.
Peter Cullinane and Jane Freeman will bring new marketing firepower to the troubled casino company which is facing upheavals on multiple fronts.
But SkyCity faces months of delays getting regulatory approval for the two directors.
And with the sale process coming to a head next week, it is possible the new board recruits will never get their feet under the boardroom table.
McGeoch said the board owed it to investors and management to push on and keep to its deadline requiring potential buyers to firm up offers by November 27.
"We cannot be distracted endlessly by people coming in and out wanting questions answered.
"If nothing goes ahead we are keen to go ahead with our existing plans to gain traction in the business," he said.
McGeoch said until their appointments were approved Cullinane and Freeman would be able to offer advice to SkyCity.
Cullinane is a former Saatchi & Saatchi global chief operating officer and Freeman is a director of Air New Zealand, Delegat's and Pumpkin Patch.
McGeoch expected to appoint another director early next year.
Meanwhile, he expected that if a bid proceeded it would be considered by the board during board meetings scheduled for December 5 and 6. The most advanced potential bidder was "heavily into due diligence" looking at SkyCity accounts and another had expressed interest.
The tight deadline did not rule out a second bid because a lot of the information about the company was public.
At last month's AGM McGeoch was criticised by shareholders for the board oversight of management under former chief executive Evan Davies.
He said that under new temporary chief executive, Elmar Toime, there was "a more united team" at SkyCity.
McGeoch said he expected the board to decide on a new chief executive before Christmas.
