Following the 1997 election of the Labour Party, and the conclusion of The Troubles, informal discussions took place with a view to relocating an English Premier League football club from the UK mainland to Belfast in Northern Ireland.
The idea was favoured by then UK prime minister Tony Blair, who felt it would be a "significant breakthrough if Belfast had a football team playing in the English Premier League".
It was believed that the proposals would bring new investment to Northern Ireland, as well as giving Belfast an international sporting profile if a team based in the city were seen to be performing well in both English and European football competitions.
[3] The same article quoted a note by Alastair Campbell, the Downing Street Chief Press Secretary, which commented on discussions Wimbledon owner Sam Hammam had undertaken with officials at the Football Association of Ireland about possibly moving the club to Dublin, but which "seems to have come to naught".
[1] Moreover, Gerry Loughran, Permanent Secretary to the Department of Economic Development, did not believe the mid-table Wimbledon would be capable of playing in Europe, or that fans would transfer their loyalty to the relocated club.