"Sadr's people had to work pretty hard to secure the release," said the person close to the negotiations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The owner met with the player in Tampa, Fla., yesterday, two people familiar with the negotiations said last night.

"They never made us an offer," said Woolf, in regard to the salary negotiations with New York.

The negotiations to form a government are "99.9pc there" as one person involved in the talks said.

These negotiations, officials and analysts said, will both shape and test the Brady plan.

The two people involved in the Brooklyn negotiations said that the company was envisioning at least a two-story store with an adjacent parking structure.

Mr. Strong had hoped for close to $1 billion, people briefed on the sale negotiations said; now he is likely to get half that amount.

"It constantly reminds us of what our role is," said one person close to the ransom negotiations.

Intense negotiations with The first European television business channel said last week that it was bankrupt and would go off the air.

However, other sources who attended the negotiations said the package totaled $206 million.