Waterford United refuse to comment on Lee Power takeover rumours

Irish First Division club Waterford United have offered a 'no comment' reply to Total Sport Swindon in regards to the possibility of Swindon chairman Lee Power being involved in the club.

Rumours have circulated in recent days that Town chief Power has been interested in taking over Waterford, who are in the second tier of Irish football. 

Reports suggested a deal would be expected to be completed by next week, subject to approval from the Football Assosciation of Ireland (FAI).

When approached by Total Sport Swindon, Waterford responded: "Waterford United have no comment to make in relation to any takeover of the club at this time."

United have previously been approached by a Chinese consortium, but no deal was struck and Power is believed to be in pole position to get a controlling stake in the club.

There are no UEFA guidelines that prevent Power from owning multiple clubs and this would not be new territory.

The Pozzo family own Premier League club Watford, Serie A outfit Udinese and formely Spanish side Granada while Roland Duchatelet owns a whopping five clubs - Charlton (England),  Alcorcon (Spain), Carl Zeiss Jena (Germany), Ujpest (Hungary) and Sint-Truidense (his native Belgium). He also sold Standard Liege in 2015.

Power has often been the subject of vitriol from Swindon supporters for his running of the club which has seen a number of star players sold, and a young sqaud assembled as he aims to make the Robins "sustainable" after previous owners have took the Wiltshire side to the brink of liquidation.

He has been involved in a number of controversies, too, including the Bristol Rovers ticket fiasco in which non-season ticket holders where re-charged for the replayed match when the original was abandoned due to heavy rain while attendances at the County Ground are down. 

It is not yet clear whether Power will leave Swindon if a deal goes through in Ireland.

Total Sport also contacted Swindon Town Football Club regarding this matter and they too refused to comment on the situation.