FAI officials were yesterday dismissive of renewed speculation that Wimbledon are to play their home games in the FA Premiership in Dublin.

Commenting on reports that an Irish consortium was ready to acquire a 75 per cent holding in the club with a view to moving their operations to Dublin, an FAI spokesman said: "The views of the association on this particular issue are well documented - there is no chance that Wimbledon will be allowed to fulfil their Premiership fixtures in this country.

That view is consistent with a decision taken by the National League last January when it voted unanimously to reject any moves to relocate Wimbledon in Dublin.

To do so, the club would require the approval of both UEFA and the FAI. Given that it would be seen as running counter to the objectives of the National League, that is highly unlikely to be forthcoming.

Reports over the weekend suggested that the consortium, headed by Paul McGuinness, of U2, and Owen O'Callaghan, a Cork based property developer, had reached agreement with the Wimbledon chairman, Sam Hammam for a 75 per cent controlling interest in the club for £60 million.