Luxembourg businessman Flavio Becca has been holding talks with the board of FC Kaiserslautern with a view to rescuing the once-proud club. On Tuesday media had reported that Becca was prepared to loan the club the money it requires to maintain its professional licence with German football association, the DFB. The club is currently 11th in the German third division. There was even a suggestion that Becca could purchase the iconic Fritz Walter stadium, named after the club’s most famous player, who was captain of the West Germany team that won the 1954 World Cup.

But on Thursday, following a meeting of the club’s board, German sports media Kicker and regional broadcaster SWR reported that Becca had imposed certain conditions on providing financial assistance. Becca is reportedly prepared to loan the club €2.6 million if it extends the contract of controversial sports business manager Martin Bader.

Despite being relegated last season, still Kaiserslautern attracts crowds of over 20,000 to home games in the third division. The club has potential. It has won the Bundesliga five times--the last title coming in 1998--but was last in the Bundesliga in the 2011-12 season, when it was getting close to sold-out crowds of 49,000.

Becca has a history of investing in sports teams. He was a long-time backer of F91 Dudelange and helped the club become almost perennial champions in Luxembourg--they even managed to qualify for the Europa League group stages this season. Becca was also the initial backer of the now defunct pro-cycling team Leopard Trek built around the Schleck brothers.