The SNP and Labour are still locked in talks in a bid to form a council administration in Fife.
It is still unclear whether the region’s two largest parties will be able to reach any kind of coalition agreement or if one party will attempt to go it alone.
The third possibility would be a deal between the SNP and the Liberal Democrats, with all other options appearing to have been ruled out by party leaders.
Negotiations are expected to take several days and it is possible no agreement will have been struck even by the first full Fife Council meeting next week.
If that happens then the local authority will be unable to appoint an administration leader or deputy leader.
The SNP holds the most seats with 29 councillors but Labour is not far behind with 24, while the Conservatives have 15 and the Lib Dems seven.
Labour leader David Ross, who led the administration during the last five-year term, confirmed he had been involved in discussions with all the group leaders and was continuing to talk to the SNP.
“That’s probably as much as I can say at the moment,” he said.
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Brett said his party had had one meeting with the SNP group since Friday’s election result but he hoped to also talk to the other parties.
“We had useful discussions with the SNP,” he said.
“That’s really all I can say because in football parlance, the ball is at their feet.
“They did indicate they would be speaking to all of the other groups and we wait to hear what their plans are.”
