Ryanair is expected today to disclose the number of acceptances it has received so far for its €1.4 billion offer for Aer Lingus, with the numbers expected to be low.

Ryanair is offering €2.80 a share and while this is above the current market price - which closed last night at €2.72 - it is unlikely to persuade a sufficient number of shareholders to give Ryanair majority control of the former State-owned airline.

Ryanair will also have the chance today to indicate whether it will extend its offer. Most sources believe the announcement will include an extension of the offer.

With the Aer Lingus share price falling back over the past week, this could prompt an improved level of acceptances.

"The further the Aer Lingus share prices falls the more people in the market might be tempted by this," said one source yesterday.

However, approximately 47 per cent of the shareholders remain opposed to the offer - this includes the Government, the Employee Share Ownership Trust (Esot), two pilot groups and entrepreneur Denis O'Brien.

They have told shareholders who do not favour the Ryanair bid to simply do nothing and not to fill out any acceptance forms.