FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Just before the Yawkey Trust was to announce the successful bidder for the Boston Red Sox, members of John Henry's group guessed who that would be.

"People threw in a dollar," said Larry Lucchino, a member of the group. "Nobody bet on us."

Barely two months later, the new owners could take control of the team Wednesday. The speedy process from the pessimism of Dec. 20 to passing papers will end once bankers and lawyers complete their work.

Henry, who has signed final documents for the closing, hopes the transfer can be completed Wednesday, although it could run over to Thursday.

At the closing, ownership will pass from the Yawkey Trust to Henry's group for $660 million, plus $40 million in assumed debt. Then it can stop tiptoeing around training camp and the issues and start making personnel changes.

General manager Dan Duquette is expected to be the first to go.

Lucchino, the incoming president, said he doesn't anticipate wholesale changes immediately.

Manager Joe Kerrigan was 17-26 in his first major league managerial job after taking over for the fired Jimy Williams late last season.

"You have to do a little bit of diagnosis when you're assessing the situation," Lucchino said in an interview at his spring training office, "but, mostly, we're trying to look forward."

Kerrigan said Tuesday he had "a good dinner" -- both the food and the conversation -- with Lucchino on Monday night. But he said he wasn't told he'd be the manager on Opening Day and didn't ask.

"I'm not that insecure of a person where I have to go and ask every day, `Do I still have a job?' " Kerrigan said. "I haven't even thought about it. Not even a wasted brain cell.

"You guys must think I stay up late at night until three, four o'clock in the morning, tossing and turning, worrying about whether I got a job or not. I got a job."

Kerrigan is more forthcoming in interviews than his predecessor, a trait the incoming owners espouse. And he said they've been supportive in conversations with him.

Duquette also said early in camp that Henry's group praised his offseason acquisitions. But his aloof style is at odds with the new emphasis.

For the first time in three days, Duquette was seen at the Red Sox camp Tuesday. But he showed up after the team's workout -- and after Henry and Lucchino left -- and stayed for less than an hour.

Outgoing owner John Harrington rarely attended spring training and almost never talked with fans. Henry and Lucchino have been at many workouts, signing autographs and chatting amiably with spectators.

"We've certainly made an effort to reach out because we were well aware of the criticism that the previous administration was less available," Lucchino said.

"We can't comment on the validity of that and we have very positive feelings for John Harrington and the previous administration," he added. "I don't want to be critical of the existing administration. I'll just say that everybody does things a little differently.

"We have the advantage of being new and the sort of energy that comes from being new."

Lucchino said his group has planned personnel changes -- which he said are inevitable -- but can't announce moves until the sale is completed.

"Normally, new owners come with new people," three-time Cy Young award winner Pedro Martinez said. "I wouldn't be surprised to be traded myself if they don't like me."

Don't count on it.

One change that has helped is improved chemistry in the clubhouse. Gone are Carl Everett, who clashed with both managers last season, and players who complained about playing time.

"I've only heard obviously about the mini-melodramas that developed late in the season," Lucchino said. "So far this spring has been mercifully free of any of that kind of stuff."

He said that once the closing is completed, the team will address personnel changes and the issue of sprucing up Fenway Park -- including the addition of several hundred seats and more concession stands -- in time for the April 1 season opener.

Then there will be greater focus on expansion and renovation of Fenway or construction of a new stadium.

"There's an old saying, `You've got to deal with the wolf closest to the sled,' so that's what you have to deal with, the things that really have to be dealt with immediately," Lucchino said.

On Dec. 20, the immediate issue for Henry's group was dinner. Its members changed from business to casual attire, assuming they were out of the running. After all, they hadn't heard all day from the sellers, who were about to announce the winning bidder.

"About two minutes before they went out there, there was a phone call from the Red Sox lawyers to our lawyer," Lucchino said. "He came in the room with his thumb up."

That's the sign Red Sox personnel hope to get this week.