SLIPPERY ROCK— With the holiday season approaching, the future of the Slippery Rock Sliders remains in limbo.

The Frontier League baseball franchise was sold to an investment group in Holland, Mich., early last month, but that deal has since fallen through.

"There was a cash flow problem with a few of the investors and they couldn't meet the payment deadline," Sliders consultant Steve Tahsler said.

The Sliders general manager last season, Tahsler recently accepted the GM position with the Frontier League's Windy City franchise in Chicago. He is working with the league office in trying to solidify the Sliders' future.

"There are two investment groups interested in the franchise right now,"Tahsler said. "One is a local group and the other is from out of town.

"Capital is not a problem with either group. Both groups are trying to determine if the team can be successful long-term at Critchfield Park or in Butler County in general."

The Sliders finished with a league-worst 29-66 record last season. Their average attendance of 713 for 27 home dates was by far the league's lowest.

If either group buys the team, it will hire its own general manager and manager to run the club. Tahsler has been working with the potential investors to fill those positions.

"Both groups have people in mind for those jobs, should the team be purchased,"he said.

Slippery Rock University athletic director Paul Lueken said the Sliders are scheduled to return to play a 30-game home schedule in 2008.

The 2008 league schedule has not been officially released and remains subject to change.

"I've got our schedule ready to go, but was told by the league not to release it, that something could change,"said Christine Blaine, Washington Wild Things director of communications.

"Nobody's signed a lease to play here yet, but my understanding is they will play 30 games at our ballpark. That's where things stand — for now,"Lueken said. "We're looking forward to working with them again and we're excited about having the Sliders as part of the community.

"With that previous sale falling through, the league is back to square one with this team. I don't think they know what direction they want to go."

The Sliders held a news conference announcing Slippery Rock as their home last year during Thanksgiving weekend.

Tahsler acknowledged there is a sense of urgency in finalizing the franchise's plans for next season. If an ownership group doesn't buy the team within the next two weeks, the league will likely assume ownership of the club for another year.

Calls to the Frontier League office Wednesday and Thursday were not returned.