Administrators have taken control of the crisis-hit Caterham team as the ongoing row over its management continued to threaten its future in the sport.

The new owners of the backmarkers and previous chief Tony Fernandes have been locked in a bitter and public war of words which could see the team struggle to make the United States Grand Prix on November 2.

Caterham’s team factory in England was closed on Thursday, putting at risk the jobs of some 200 employees, and now the administrator has been placed in charge of 1MRT, the company which owns Caterham’s licence to race in Formula One.

The aim is to keep the team going in the short term with a view to finding a new buyer.

“This is a very cash-strapped team,” administrator Finbarr O’Connell said Friday.

“I have been approached by people who are interested, so my immediate position is to further the negotiations with them as quickly as possible in order that somebody with proper financial backing can hopefully take over the team.”

Asked if he was now effectively Caterham’s team principal, O’Connell said: “Yes, I think that is the case.”

O’Connell said his first task was to assure himself of the safety of Caterham’s cars after concerns were raised by Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi.

“You will know one of the drivers complained about technical difficulties with the car and feared for his safety,” O’Connell said.

“So we are looking into those because clearly the cars have to be safe before they can be driven, so that’s the main issue I have at the moment.”

He added: “Our objective is to get this team racing on a proper financial standing, and hopefully if a funder comes through, this team can run again.”

Caterham F1 confirmed O’Connell’s role in a statement of their own.

On Thursday, the combative Fernandes accused the consortium of Swiss and Middle Eastern businessmen who took charge of the outfit in June of failing to honour their obligations.

His accusation came just 24 hours after Engavest, which represents the group, threatened legal action against the Malaysian.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone said Thursday he was trying to broker a deal.

“We’re trying to help in any way we can, which we do with anybody that has run into a bit of difficulty,” Ecclestone told the BBC.