In a statement that popped up on PokerNews on Monday, Full Tilt Poker apologized to the public for its silence following the immediate aftermath of Black Friday. This is one of the first press statements released by the embattled online poker room in several months and addressed its exclusive negotiations with a group of European investors as well as its lack of communication with customers and the media.

Full Tilt, formerly the second largest online poker room in the land, rationalized, “Full Tilt Poker apologizes for its lack of communication with its customers over the last month and a half, but it has been grappling with unexpected and complex legal and financial issues arising from Black Friday and its aftermath. In addition, the company has had to be circumspect about disclosing the progress of negotiations with potential investors because there is often a requirement of strict confidentiality.”

The original exclusive negotiating period between the site and a European investment team reportedly brought to the table by Phil Ivey ended in July, but PocketFives.com learned that the two sides had agreed to continue discussions. On Monday, the extended negotiating period appeared to come to a screeching halt.

On the sale front, the statement posted on PokerNews explained that Pocket Kings, the parent company of Full Tilt Poker, “concluded the exclusivity period of negotiations with their current potential investor. While Pocket Kings plans to continue discussions with its current investor, the company has now begun negotiations with additional potential investors to conclude the sale/partnership of the Full Tilt Poker brand and its assets.”

According to QuadJacks, but not confirmed by Full Tilt, the asking price was $200 million for 50% of the company.

In late June, the Alderney Gambling Control Commission suspended Full Tilt’s operating license, potentially because the site was unable to repay U.S. players following Black Friday. It’s widely believed that Full Tilt’s ownership did not separate player deposits from operating funds. A hearing in London will likely occur in mid-September.

In an exclusive interview with PocketFives.com in early July, a source close to Full Tilt Poker expected the sale to the European group to close within two weeks. Our source contended, “The game plan is that within the next two weeks, this deal will close, and the number one feature of it is for players to get paid back. The investor is aware of that and everyone knows that’s the critical material term. Without that term, the deal won’t happen.” In the end, a deal with Ivey’s investors failed to come to fruition.

In a thread in the Poker Sites forumon PocketFives.com, players were wary that Full Tilt Poker might never return their funds. One poster wrote, “You can’t just steal large sums of money from millions of people and not expect some severe consequences… I have heard some enormous figures regarding annual compensation for guys near the top. Until player account balances are met, this should be considered stealing.”

Similar reaction could be found in the article’s comments on PokerNews, with one person weighing in, “This release essentially says that the deal has fallen through and they are praying that another miracle investor comes along to bail them out of the mess they have gotten themselves into. Optimism in the community has gotten fatally low and they are simply trying to head off a complete collapse of confidence.”

The rare statement issued by Pocket Kings on Monday ended by promising, “To the extent that it can do so without jeopardizing future opportunities, Full Tilt Poker will strive to have better communication with its customers going forward. Full Tilt Poker’s number one priority remains the same: to secure an infusion of capital to repay all of its worldwide customers.” Whether this priority can be a reality remains to be seen.

Stay tuned to PocketFives.com for the latest from the Full Tilt Poker battlefront.