First it was Tuesday, then Wednesday, then Thursday. Now, maybe, it’s Friday.

Selma’s American Candy Co. and Bank of America, caught in the midst of settlement negotiations, still have not released a formal agreement to U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Margaret Mahoney.

According to the court clerk’s office, the two sides had not made reached a conclusive settlement by the end of work Thursday.

According to prior reports from the bankruptcy court, American Candy and Bank of America were close to a settlement that would allow American Candy to sell its company to someone else.

While it is unknown who is close to purchasing American Candy from its present ownership, a candy company executive from Paducah, Ky., made public his desire to buy the Selma company.

In a letter to Selma Mayor James Perkins, attorney Randy Treece said his client — James Lacy — wants to purchase American Candy and maintain operations in Selma.

“Mr. Lacy requested that I write this letter to you on his behalf to express his interest in making a proposal to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the purchase of the assets of American Candy Company,” the letter said. “My client is interested in purchasing the business and continuing to maintain the business operations at the Selma location.”

Gaylon Warrington, CEO of American Candy, is still in Mobile. Perkins reached Warrington late Thursday evening, and Warrington confirmed that Lacy had expressed his interest in purchasing the company. He made no other comment about the offer.

However, sources in the Bankruptcy Court office say the company is working with a potential buyer already. Indications from the letter written by Lacy’s attorney are that the buyer is not Lacy’s company.

Perkins said he received the letter around 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

“The letter and attachments speak for themselves,” Perkins said. “To date, this is the only company that I am aware of that wants to buy American Candy and is willing to document up front its willingness to continue operating in Selma.”

Perkins said that Lacy’s offer may be “the only way to save the 350 jobs of the American Candy workers.

Lacy, who owns Gilliam Candy Brands, a company that began in 1927. In addition to the business in Paducah, Gilliam Candy has divisions in Atlanta and Canajoharie, N.Y.

Perkins said he would do everything he could to help Lacy get his request to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. However, negotiations with the bank and American Candy are still ongoing — apparently with another buyer.

Perkins also said he would remain available to American Candy if they asked for his help.

American Candy filed under Chapter 11 of the Federal Bankruptcy laws on June 29, 2001. At the time, Warrington said the move would help his company regroup and become profitable again.

Nearly a year later, things never worked out for the candy company.

On May 23, American Candy executives — unable to secure financing for the company — sent employees home and said they would return to work on June 3. That return never happened, and many employees have been out of work since then.