Tower Hamlets charity Real has a strong chance of claiming the disabled services contract that was initially won by out-of-towners Pohwer.
Lutfur Rahman's Tower Hamlets First party was unlikely to join with the opposition to force their boss back to the table without clearance from the man himself. Mr Rahman has already made concessionary noises in response to the prospect of a re-run, which also bodes well.
And the "explanation" - that he was given insufficient information when the bid came for his signature - provides the political wiggle room.
But there is an alternative narrative. Deep-pocketed Pohwer - which won legitimately remember - threatens to take legal action over the fumbled tender and the mayor is advised that a re-run is untenable.
Now the mayor is exposed. For he has dug deep into council coffers in his rather unseemly legal battle against those trying to investigate his competence. He is fighting in the High Court on two fronts - against Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and against election petitioners who allege malpractice in May's ballot.
It would be unconscionable for Real to see their mayor declaring he has no stomach for a legal fight for any cause except saving his own skin. It would be unpalatable to see disabled workers made redundant while the mayor luxuriated in QC's silk.
And here's another reminder of Mr Rahman's dilemma. The difference between Pohwer's bid of £199,206 and Real's more typical £326,500 is £127,000.
That figure rings a discordant bell, doesn't it?
Inconveniently for the mayor, it is the size of the tax payer's first donation to his self-preservation society.
It is money that would be far better spent - it would be hard to deny - supporting disabled workers in jobs than fighting a cause that a judge has denounced in part as "hopeless".
