I honestly don't think at ever has been for sale, no.
Ashleys business credentials can't be called into question, he's without doubt one of the best in the country. If he wanted to sell nufc back then, he wouldn't have got shit faced in dubai as was reported.
I think it would as a box ticking exercise, personally.
When my business ran into trouble, the bank told me to sell my house. I'd paid £300k for it, the market was fucked and it was worth £250k, I marketed it at £300k,because i didn't want to sell, although I argued that what i had paid, and that's what I wanted.
It was advertised, at £300k, and the bank got off my back.
It was 'for sale', but wasn't 'for sale', if you get what I mean.
If I'd really wanted to sell, it would have been marketed at £250k,but I didn't, I wanted a box ticked.
Same with us, imo obviously.