On the 25th of February 2025, LOITalk exclusively revealed that Limerick FC had made an application for the brand new FAI National League that is scheduled to commence in 2026. Limerick FC, who has been owned by Limerick businessman Pat O’Sullivan since 2010 currently only field teams in the League Of Ireland Academy leagues who were also in the headlines this week as the Irish Examiner revealed that the Under 15 and Under 17 teams had pulled out of their respective competitions before the club making a u-turn and reinstating them.
What came as the biggest surprise in Limerick FC’s confirmation of their application wasn’t the fact that they had applied but the club is no longer fully owned by Pat O’Sullivan that 49% of Limerick FC is now currently owned by Pro Football Enterpise.
In a statement posted on LinkedIn by Pro Football Enterprise it says “We now own 49% of Limerick FC which currently is a League Of Ireland Youth Academy with bots U15 and U17. We have the right to buy another 46% in 15 months bringing us to 95% Limerick FC has made an application for the 3rd Tier to the FAI.”
Come September 2026, Pro Football Enterprise could potentially own 95% of Limerick FC. By then Limerick FC will either be coming to the end of the first ever season of the National League or else their application will have been rejected and still competing in the academy leagues. The question that we will look to answer now is : Who are Pro Football Enterprise?
Pro Football Enterprise
Pro Football Enterprise is a multi-club investment platform letting individuals invest in a portfolio of professional soccer teams across Europe and North America. It’s modeled after the multi-club structures of the Manchester City Group and Red Bull sports empire—a private-equity-backed venture built to scale via talent development, club promotions, and media/sponsorship growth.
The venture is spearheaded by Dennis Lukens, who has plenty of experience in in managing and scaling clubs—emphasizing his ambition to create a global “football empire”.
Lukens was appointed Director Of Football for Limerick FC back in July 2024 and has since spearheaded the purchase of 49% of Limerick FC for Pro Football Enterprise. Lukens is no stranger to the League Of Ireland having also been involved with the attempt to bring Irish Sea FC to the League Of Ireland back in 2021.
The Pro Football Enterprise Mission Statement which you can find on their website is:
Dennis Lukens, a football industry veteran, has a bold vision to transform soccer investment by building a multi-club network across high-potential markets. PRO Football Soccer Enterprise is set to redefine how soccer clubs operate—creating new revenue streams through player transfers, media deals, and global branding, just like Manchester City Group and Red Bull.
This is your chance to become an early partner in an exclusive venture designed to dominate the football landscape for years to come.
Limerick FC is not the only club in the portfolio, with ANARGIROI FC in Cyprus and Tampa Bay Mutiny FC in the USA also coming under the Pro Football Enterprise umbrella. They also state that they have a “written purchase and sales agreement with a Trinidad and Tobago club in the 2nd tier”.
The Model:
The Pro Football Enterprise model is designed to generate returns by acquiring professional soccer clubs in emerging and established markets, developing talented players through these clubs’ academies and first teams, and then profiting from transfer fees when players move to higher-level leagues. In parallel, the company aims to increase the valuations of its clubs by achieving promotions to higher divisions, expanding sponsorship and media partnerships, growing matchday and merchandising revenues, and leveraging the popularity of soccer to build strong local and global fanbases.
Blue Army Supporter Groups Thoughts:
With the news of Limerick FC applying for the third tier we got in touch with the Blue Army to see their thoughts on the announcement and what the future could have in store for the potential of 2 senior football teams in Limerick.
We feel it would be best if Limerick FC just disappeared they offer nothing of any value to football in Limerick or the young people of the region. Its basically a tool for a few people’s ego that is taking players from their own clubs for basically nothing there is no progression available and the young lads have taken some absolute hammerings. Anyone that claims to be a football person should hang their heads in shame if they get involved with Limerick FC based on the carry on there in recent years. We absolutely in no way will support it and actively hope they never receive a senior licence. While we have had our problems with Treaty they’re run so far ahead of Limerick FC and the people there.
As Limerick FC’s application for the new National League awaits an FAI decision, supporters, stakeholders, and observers will watch closely to see whether Pro Football Enterprise will be able to get the project off the ground. Questions will still remain about the viability of 2 senior football teams in the Limerick region with Treaty United currently in the League Of Ireland First Division and fighting for the playoff places. With Treaty United securing a new agreement for the Markets Field it also adds another question as to where Limerick FC would play games in the National League should they be successful.
The more you read into it, the more questions you end up with very little answers available right now. The announcement of the 20 successful teams by the FAI could be a major turning point for Denis Lukens, Limerick FC and Pro Football Enterprise.