4Digital Group, which will operate the UK's second national digital multiplex, has been interviewing applicants for the commercial director position since the autumn and a final decision was expected before Christmas.
But with no announcement imminent, it is understood that one of the two final contenders, former Capital Radio sales director Chris Bennett, is no longer in the frame.
Bennett was tipped as the favourite for the position, but it is now thought that GCap's current national sales director Simon Daglish is the only contender remaining - and his candidature is also thought to be uncertain.
Should GCap succeed in rebuffing Global Radio's takeover bid, it is expected that Daglish, a vocal supporter of new chief executive Fru Hazlitt, will remain with GCap.
The delay in appointing a sales team is another blow to the time-table for the launch of 4Radio.
In December, it was announced that BBC 5 Live controller Bob Shennan would be replacing Nathalie Schwarz as Channel 4's director of radio, with Schwarz promoted to business and corporate development director at Channel 4.
But there is still no start date agreed for Shennan, as Channel 4 continues to negotiate with the BBC over a release from his contract.
Meanwhile, the announced line-up of stations on the 4Digital platform has been hit by defections and delays. Chrysalis Radio backed out of plans to produce Sky News Radio.
Virgin Radio has also pulled plans for a Virgin Viva station, while the launch of Channel 4 Radio has been delayed by three months until April 2009.
A source close to the plans for 4Radio described them as "massively optimistic", specifically that the audience estimates were "fantastic - and not in a good way".
Schwarz claimed the appointment of a radio ad chief is in line with the timetable, adding that Channel 4 already "has a substantial TV and online sales team that has been involved in liaising with agencies".
She added that there were five parties interested in replacing Virgin Viva and that Sky was confident of launching a news station in a joint venture.
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