Byline: OWEN COWZER Soccer Correspondent

NEW Waterford United owner Lee Power was recently told about a promotion-relegation play-off between the Blues and Dundalk.

It happened just four years ago and the teams have gone in opposite directions since.

The Lilywhites have gone from strength to strength, taking three titles in a row, including a Double in 2015.

Now Stephen Kenny's men are the talk of the continent, confident they can reach the Europa League last 32.

But it has been all downhill for Waterford. They lost that 2012 tie over two legs and have remained in the First Division doldrums since.

Power told SunSport: "It's unbelievable when you look at it. The job they've done there is ridiculous, phenomenal. It just shows it can be done." Indeed, Dundalk's progress in Europe this year was one of the main things that caught Power's attention.

The Swindon Town owner since 2013 and ex-Ireland Under-21 and B striker began looking towards the land of his grandparents to buy a club after realising this was a domestic league that was on the way up. Waterford were top of his list for emotional reasons. London-born and bred, Power can trace his roots to the Deise. But this move made business sense, too.

He added: "I've seen the developments and what Dundalk achieved this year and it was a market that I wanted to be involved in. Everyone wants to be in Europe and so on. Definitely, it is a cheaper route.

"I think the job that John Delaney has done with the league ... it just looked like a league that is going to take off very soon and I was interested in being part of that.

"There would only have been a handful that I would have been interested in looking at, if you look from a business perspective.

"Obviously I wanted a club down in that part of the world because that's where my family are from it was the first place I looked. I wasn't looking for a Dublin club. When I first asked about Waterford and they were available, it was a no-brainer.

"Obviously I have...