Sam Hammam, the controversial chairman of Wimbledon FC, is due back in Dublin today for another round of talks, designed to overcome opposition to his proposal to relocate the club in Dublin.
Hammam, who has already discussed the matter with representatives of Cork City, Limerick, Athlone Town and Drogheda, now faces an even more difficult task in attracting the support of Dublin clubs for his cause.
This is where the core of the opposition resides and with the anti-lobby still embracing most of the provincial clubs, Hammam, it seems, has a lot of persuasive talking to do over the next 72 hours.
His supporters, who include the Cork property developer, Owen O'Callaghan, are encouraged by the reception they have had so far but privately, they acknowledge that the bigger hurdles have yet to be negotiated.
On this occasion, Hammam will be accompanied by Jean Louis Dupont, a Belgian lawyer, who was engaged last week to prepare a submission to the European Commission on Wimbledon's behalf. Dupont whose astute handling of the Bosman case, resulted in profound changes in football, believes that he has a valid case to present to the European authorities and that the requisite directives will be forthcoming sooner rather than later.
His involvement in the Wimbledon campaign is interpreted as increasing the pressure on the FAI and its constituent body, the National League. Their answer, it now seems, will be to involve both FIFA and UEFA more centrally in the controversy.
Both of these powerful international bodies have indicated that they stand firmly behind the FAI. By extension, then, the move to turn up the heat on those in authority at Merrion Square, is being interpreted as a direct challenge to the world body and its biggest constituent member.
For those most closely involved in the crusade to keep Premiership football out of Dublin, that poses a fundamental question with far reaching consequences for football. Put simply, it asks: Who controls the game - the appointed international authorities and their member federations or the entrepreneurs waiting in the wings, to bring their influence to bear?
