Gold Coast chief executive Graham Annesley admits player retention and recruitment has been stalled by the club's ongoing search for a coach.
The Titans had hoped to have already secured a replacement for the axed Neil Henry.
Annesley is still optimistic of an announcement this week although he said the selection committee to decide the coach was yet to put forward a name to the board.
But with the sale of the club happening simultaneously, he admitted the back-and-forth between parties involved in both procedures had slowed things down.
With valuable utility Tyrone Roberts off contract and continually linked with English club Warrington, Annesley said it had taken its toll.
Last week, the club disputed reports Roberts had signed with the Wolves and Annesley is confident the 138-game NRL veteran would remain on the Gold Coast.
The pressure is also on the club to retain star halfback Ashley Taylor, who is contracted for 2018 but free to negotiate his future beyond that as of November 1.
"We're still in talks and deals with players can be done, but it can have an impact if players want to know who the coach will be," Annesley said.
Prospective owners of the NRL-run club have been kept abreast of those developments ahead of an ARL Commission meeting later this month.
"We're operating in a very, very unusual set of circumstances that probably won't ever happen again," Annesley said.
"I haven't written this week off (in terms of selecting a coach) and I'd be very surprised if it wasn't finalised before players return for pre-season (in early November)."
Annesley has remained tight-lipped regarding the coach candidates.
Former NSW coach Laurie Daley, axed South Sydney mentor Michael Maguire, Brisbane assistant Jason Demetriou and Ipswich's coaching brothers Shane and Ben Walker are all said to be in the frame.
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