Olympic Council of Ireland president Pat Hickey's team faces a battle to hold onto their jobs next month, two weeks after the Sports Council is due to publish a review of Ireland's disappointing Olympic display.
This review is expected to at least partly blame the OCI for Ireland's lack of medals at Sydney.
It is now believed that Richard Burrows, boss of Irish Distillers and a leading official in Irish sailing, will be nominated to run against Hickey at an AGM on February 15th.
Details of the planned coup emerged last week - with Irish leaders of all Olympic sports receiving letters promising to restore what was called " full democracy".
A controversial 1989 AGM increased the voting strength of OCI officers and executive in setting policy - at the expense of the national federations.
It appears that at least 10 national governing bodies are involved in the campaign. The group has pledged to contest all available positions on the OCI.