HERE'S something that may sound almost sacrilegious in the context of a National League column. Wimbledon representatives, and all other people interested in the south London club's ambition to relocate to Dublin, should be invited over, listened to and heard out loud.

What's more, the proposal and everything that goes with it should be debated, discussed and outlined publicly - above board. No more secretive meetings and documentation. Then, and only then, might we come to see whether an English Premiership club coming to Dublin could ultimately be of benefit to the domestic game and the National League in particular.

It's all very well and good for the 52 member senior council of the FAI to agree unanimously (there's no evidence to suggest that an actual vote took place), that the association dismiss the proposed relocation out of hand, as they did last December.

Their suspicion that meetings had been going on behind their backs may no doubt be well founded, as may their deeply held belief that Wimbledon moving to Dublin would sound the death knell for the National League. But until such time as a full package is put in place, such a judgment must be premature.

The National League clubs, and all others sympathetic to them in the FAI, are in a far stronger bargaining position than perhaps they realise. It's difficult to envisage how Wimbledon's relocation could be sanctioned without their approval.

So let's hear Sam Hamman, the ebullient Lebanese born businessman and owner of Wimbledon. There are many positive aspects to his proposal and no one argues them more persuasively. A fortnight ago, when clarifying the purpose of his meeting with the Shelbourne chairman Finbar Flood, Hamman gave this journalist a lengthy discourse on the benefits of his club moving to Dublin.

Firstly, he argued, it is permissible, and cited the many examples of clubs playing in a national league despite being based outside its geographical borders, such as Derry City here, Monaco in France etc. Secondly, the need of the Irish footballing public to have full time professional football. Thirdly, the development of a modern day football stadium which would ensue. Fourthly, the development of a footballing infrastructure incorporating eight nine, ten coaching centres to breed players from grass roots.

Point five, the development of what Hamman called "a sense of pride and belonging" from having a professional Dublin club, competing in the English Premiership. Point six, Irish dubs themselves would feel the benefits through the coaching centres of excellence and the spin off in public interest for the "Dublin Dons" or whatever Wimbledon might re name themselves. We'll return to this one.

Point seven, the many interconnected spin offs in tourism and business, from airlines to hotels, restaurants, taxis etc., Point eight, it would "get young people off the street" and help to alleviate crime and violence in part by creating the aforementioned sense of pride and belonging. "This club will make a majors contribution to the country," concluded Hamman.

Perhaps it would. Certainly there would have to be some significant benefits. But the one point where Hamman failed to convince me was number six, that as night would follow day so the interest generated in a Dublin based English Premiership club would spill over to the domestic game. In wrongly citing a supposedly similar spin off from the success under Jack Charlton Hamman demonstrated a lack of understanding of our domestic game.

In this also, the economist Colm McCarthy also failed to convince when giving a coldly socio economic analysis of why Wimbledon should relocate here.

Furthermore, neither Hamman, McCarthy nor anyone else who clearly realises such a proposed relocation would ultimately be a licence to print money has expressed a willingness that Wimbledon and its backers should pay the FAI National League considerably for the franchise. Ham man argues that the association should pay them. Whoaaa Sam! Returning to the unappreciated bargaining strength of the FAI National League, I believe they should charge about £2 million a year for the franchise or, say, £6 million over four years or whatever.

Imagine if such a lump sum was ploughed into the 22 National League clubs for ground development? And it incorporated a significantly improved television deal linked in with a Dublin based Wimbledon, with the ensuing improvement in European performances by National League clubs which a move to summer football would undoubtedly bring? I doubt it will ever come to this. But if it did, it's quite likely that the benefits in spectator/playing facilities to the National League would be the most significant in its 74 year history. In due time, it could well be that Wimbledon would be relegated, or that the economists and armchair fans would realise what the rest of us know, that Wimbledon v Coventry or West Ham or Southampton or whoever would pale by comparison to any Dublin derby or top class Premier Division game.

At the very least, the FAI National League and the 22 clubs should evaluate the whole package before dismissing it prematurely.