The American investors believed to be in negotiations to take over Dundalk also have a 25 per cent stake in Premier League side Bournemouth.

Peak6 is a Chicago-based investment firm, whose co-owner, Matt Hulsizer, also owns a stake in Minnesota Wild, a National Hockey League team. The firm invested in Bournemouth two years ago after Hulsizer failed to secure ownership of Reading a year earlier.

That they have now turned their attentions to Dundalk, runners up in this year’s SSE Airtricity Premier Division and FAI Cup, has the potential to become one of the most fascinating stories of the year, given the pedigree of the people involved, and the depth of their pockets.

Hulsizer, in particular, is an intriguing character, whose attraction to sporting underdog