Hull City owners to take majority stake in Dundalk?

[Knocklyonhoop]

Was the FAI payment to Dundalk to cover wages / revenue out of funds due from uefa or is it an advance of future potential winnings?

[dundalkfc10]

Clubs in Ireland can't be solely reliant on gate income or match day income. Especially if a club goes down the route of fan ownership. Sligo have led the way in fundraising, and raise a ridiculous amount of money each year through various fan fundraisers, and the likes of Bohemians have shown how to be smart commercially. The combination of these ideas should be the blueprint for any fan owned club in Ireland, especially those in bigger towns like Dundalk, also being the biggest sporting body in the area.


Seemingly wages have now been paid, and this is completely separate to the fan based Go Fund me (13.5k now), so BA must have got the cash from somewhere.

But it shouldn't have come to this, and is there any guarantee he will pay next months wages if there is no takeover by then?


Was the FAI payment to Dundalk to cover wages / revenue out of funds due from uefa or is it an advance of future potential winnings?

On one of the Dundalk podcasts, journalist from local paper said something about a PFAI emergency fund that's available which the players were told would be used to cover wages if needed

Seems Ainscough is not putting any more money in. The supporters club 1903 paid for the bus to Waterford last night and I'd imagine they paid for food after the game too

[Another Bohemia]

On one of the Dundalk podcasts, journalist from local paper said something about a PFAI emergency fund that's available which the players were told would be used to cover wages if needed

Seems Ainscough is not putting any more money in. The supporters club 1903 paid for the bus to Waterford last night and I'd imagine they paid for food after the game too

So genuine question but would that be considered Dundalk paying the wages? My assumption was that the PFAI emergency fund is something paid into by players as part of their dues/membership fee/whatever it's called of their trade union and the union would then be giving them money from it to pay their bills. i.e. Dundalk still wouldn't have paid them. I can't imagine a trade union stepping in to pay wages for what is essentially an absentee owner so the players would get some money from the fund but Dundalk/Ainscough/New Owner would still be on the hook for back wages.

[oriel]

On one of the Dundalk podcasts, journalist from local paper said something about a PFAI emergency fund that's available which the players were told would be used to cover wages if needed

Seems Ainscough is not putting any more money in. The supporters club 1903 paid for the bus to Waterford last night and I'd imagine they paid for food after the game too

They did, they had a post up last night, some hotel with a sign on the table, enjoy the food, the 1903 (it was pre match meal, these things prob cost €500)

Ainscough is nothing less than a gangster, allowing / leaving it up to the governing body pay his employees and a fan group look after away day match expenses, he's still uncontactable in Boston.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Kerry FC had a lucky escape

[2 Year Contract]

A grim state of affairs painted by Stephen McGuinness here. He reckons Dundalk could go out of business within the next few weeks, despite recent optimism from elsewhere on the potential new ownership situation

https://www.lmfm.ie/news/sport/dundalk-could-go-out-of-business-within-weeks-pfai-chief/

[Longfordian]

Seems a bit dramatic given there are no winding up petitions out there (as yet). Obviously not a good situation right now but they can limp along for a while yet.

[Knocklyonhoop]

Apparently they’re haemorrhaging close to €20k per month cash wise. With 3 home games left unless there is sponsorship cash due, they need either an investor or it’s SCARP or examinership. Why would anyone invest before either of these happening?

[dundalkfc10]

Word around the town today is Ainscough has started liquidation whatever that entails and be a statement in the next few day or 2

Sad times

[oriel]

Heard he is fling for Bankruptcy tomorrow in the States.

Has to be a serious knock on effect for DFC and no idea how this will effect a sale, if the club just stops, goes into liquidation and pulls out, seems its on that road now, desperate stuff.

[ger121]

How the **** was a guy with finances that bad ever allowed to take over not one but two clubs. The FAI have an awful lot to answer for here too.

[sbgawa]

I'd be shocked if dundalk aren't proper up by the FAI no matter what happens for 1 month to finish the season rather than have to feck the league table up

[placid casual]

Message to everyone in the FAI: Keep a lookout for blokes approaching with a can of petrol in their hands.

[Martinho II]

I really hope for Dundalks sake they dont go with all the history they have. Think the Dundalk board have a lot to answer with all the money from 2016 onwards going astray. Stephen McGuinness is an ex Dundalk player so would have his fingers on the pulse. If Dundalk go the FAI will have to bear the blame!

[2 Year Contract]

I'd be shocked if dundalk aren't proper up by the FAI no matter what happens for 1 month to finish the season rather than have to feck the league table up

Not a hope of that happening IMO. The FAI haven’t a pot to **** in at the moment and their recent cutbacks are set to include canning their own emerging talent programme

[oriel]

I really hope for Dundalks sake they dont go with all the history they have. Think the Dundalk board have a lot to answer with all the money from 2016 onwards going astray. Stephen McGuinness is an ex Dundalk player so would have his fingers on the pulse. If Dundalk go the FAI will have to bear the blame!


People keep talking about 2016 money, it was 6m, but after charter planes (that SK insisted on for all group games) and hotels, bonus payments etc, it was down to 3.1m, all that did was to fund 2 more leagues (18 and 19) and a cup win in 2020. a new pitch costs 700k, YDC re-fit was 500k, and 500k o/s council planning fees had to be paid, so there was nothing left.

2020 EL group stage, another story, when Stat Sports led takeover happened Nov 2021, there was 2.1m left from P6 part 2, they didn't spend a cent, just ran that down and accumulated debt.

Disgraceful how it all happened and worse no ground improvements, but the money 'going astray' is not correct, it was just spent, no rainy day fund was the concern, but too many owners and avg lifespan of 2 years meant no planning.

Terribly sad how it has all ended.

[BonnieShels]

Are we done done?

[oriel]

https://x.com/DundalkFC/status/1835402040283173350

[BonnieShels]

Aye, read that after my post. Still not filling me with confidence. Fingers crossed.

[gufct]

An absolute gob****e Sligo rovers supporter Dylan Kearns is the clown behind all the rumours today.

[Another Bohemia]

https://x.com/DundalkFC/status/1835402040283173350

That statement was obviously very necessary with the rumours but the part about the next 24 hours being crucial to survival does give the vibe that there is impending doom. This has to be the quickest turnaround from new owner/fresh start to missing payments and going bust. Even Bray lasted longer and spawned one of the better lines with comparing Wicklow to North Korea.

[Jack B]

John Fallon seems to have had a couple of exclusives re: Dundalk this season and he's subsequently posted a story that indicates the club are more likely to be wound up than rescued. Hopefully something miraculous can occur in the next 24 hours.

[Kiki Balboa]

Hard not to feel extremely bitter.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Assume if they did go under another team would just reform in division 1 next season?

[Longfordian]

Assume if they did go under another team would just reform in division 1 next season?

Very difficult to get everything organised in time for licensing for next year. Maybe the following year might be doable.

[brendy_éire]

Very difficult to get everything organised in time for licensing for next year. Maybe the following year might be doable.

We did it very quickly, though we had plenty of political backing, and John Delaney publicly announced after meeting the mayor that we'd have a team in the league the next year.
If someone or some group were able to get themselves organised, it's entirely possible.

[Jamesie]

Club spends money it can't generate..finishes higher or European place...costs genuine clubs positions and managers jobs...eventually **** hits the fan and league in chaos...absolute ****show....I called it here months ago they needed to accept they're not big anymore...didn't go down well

[outspoken]

Assume if they did go under another team would just reform in division 1 next season?

As stated above, hard to see them getting all the licensing stuff sorted in such a short space, not to mention the question of Oriel Park, would the pitch in it's current state even receive a FD license. It's absolutely sickening

[2 Year Contract]

As stated above, hard to see them getting all the licensing stuff sorted in such a short space, not to mention the question of Oriel Park, would the pitch in it's current state even receive a FD license. It's absolutely sickening

Good point, even for Dundalk in its current guise to receive a licence to play at Oriel next season, I believe a new pitch and floodlight work has to be completed before next season. They were given the ok for a government grant for those works I believe but if the club is wound up I’d imagine any new club that the supporters set up would have to apply separately for another grant. A total mess of a situation

[David BOHie]

While I do feel bad for the fans, to a degree, it's possibly the biggest example of gross negligence in the running of an LOI club I can think if. About €10m in european prize money over a few seasons and it's hard to see exactly what infrastructure projects were undertaken to push the club forward in a sustainable manner. From my brief research, it seems money was spent on the YDC in 2010, pre the european run, and then a new pitch was installed in 2017 replacing the old pitch (good job btw, Oriel now has a notoriously amazing pitch that receives many plaudits) and some more money was spent in 2019 upgrading the YDC again. The total cost of those two projects cost about €800k. So approximately 8% of a huge windfall was spent of infrastructure while Oriel Park remains an absolute disgrace. I hope the government spend their windfall a little better than Dundalk spent theirs.

Why so many transfers in July? Why not try sell a few players? Why the contract extension for Horgan?


I honestly can't see any investor in their right mind put any money at all in to this dumpster fire. Hopefully the club can reform and rebuild. It's a shame it's happened to Dundalk because of their rich LOI history but I hope this serves as a cautionary tale for other LOI clubs thinking of outside investment.

I see here, only 360k is needed to keep the club afloat for the season. The players (very soundly) are willing to write off two weeks wages brining the total down to 320k.
https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/d-day-dundalk-fc-plug-33675091?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

Give the Mary Wallopers a bell, beg them to do a gig for free (ala Johnny Logan for Bohs) charge 100 quid a ticket and go from there.

[Knocklyonhoop]

Surely if they do die the league has to accept the phoenix club into div 1? The club will eventually come back but I’d say the 1903 will garner enough support to have a d1 club. It’s not like there’s a queue of clubs to fill,the void. And the whole pyramid is stronger with Dundalk in.

but why would an “investor” take on 2m of Debt rather than let the club die and take for nothing?

[joey B]

How the **** was a guy with finances that bad ever allowed to take over not one but two clubs. The FAI have an awful lot to answer for here too.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2024/09/15/fai-interim-boss-says-loophole-meant-all-financial-checks-were-not-carried-out-when-ainscough-purchased-dundalk/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Your answer is there,they didn’t even bother checking due to a “loophole “,another episode from the FAI of the laughing stock genre……

[Longfordian]

We did it very quickly, though we had plenty of political backing, and John Delaney publicly announced after meeting the mayor that we'd have a team in the league the next year.
If someone or some group were able to get themselves organised, it's entirely possible.

I'm open to correction but I think the deadlines are earlier now. The licences were announced in November last year.

[thebronze14]

Shamrock Rovers B/2/Reserves may be getting a call

[Kiki Balboa]

Plenty of people delighted Dundalk is gone.

[pineapple stu]

Surely if they do die the league has to accept the phoenix club into div 1?
It's what happened with Cork, Derry, Wexford and Waterford. One of the bigger joke elements in the LoI. Get your debt written off and all you have to do is take a year or two in the First Division (which was probably coming your way anyway) and accept a three-year Euro ban.

I can't see them going to the wall quite that quickly though. It's in nobody's interest; it's a sure-fire way of not being paid

[pineapple stu]

I can't see them going to the wall quite that quickly though. It's in nobody's interest; it's a sure-fire way of not being paid
Hmmm. The Mirror (https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/d-day-dundalk-fc-plug-33675091?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar&fbclid=IwY2xjawFUuP1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHScepf_1vRHH1 QH7VCjRxn42HpCFyhZjKrvuKb1XwEwq3zos2340fP48GA_aem_ 4CDa0uB2eFL0aC0rS0WYQA) seem to disagree anyway. Prize money already paid too


Dundalk FC could cease to exist by 5pm today, unless a white knight rides in to save the 121-year-old club. But the likelihood of that happening is growing slimmer by the hour

[redobit]

Plenty of people delighted Dundalk is gone.

I don't think so. But there will be little sympathy for a club who buried its head in the sand, especially after they had to 'save the club' in 2013. No lessons were learned.

[Kiki Balboa]

I don't think so. But there will be little sympathy for a club who buried its head in the sand, especially after they had to 'save the club' in 2013. No lessons were learned.

Your sanctimonious nature is really having a field day. "No lessons were learned" like you are some kind of messiah.

Anyways, Dundalk was never a moneybags story. It's playing budget since 2021 was nothing out of the ordinary for LOI - and even under Kenny, it had a lot of part time players.

People vastly overestimate what you can do with a couple of million in football. It quickly goes, and all that you are left with vultures. As said, a bit of money went into infrastructure, especially the YDC.

Dundalk has punched well above its weight in football for a while, and some people are just delighted to have them gone. Especially Sligo fans for some reason.

Dundalk, for me, was genuinely one of the most special places to be on Friday night - and now it seems to have been taken away.

Makes myself question my own attitude to other clubs going like Limerick and Cork. But I guess that is lessons learnt.

[Another Bohemia]

Your sanctimonious nature is really having a field day. "No lessons were learned" like you are some kind of messiah.

Anyways, Dundalk was never a moneybags story. It's playing budget since 2021 was nothing out of the ordinary for LOI - and even under Kenny, it had a lot of part time players.

People vastly overestimate what you can do with a couple of million in football. It quickly goes, and all that you are left with vultures. As said, a bit of money went into infrastructure, especially the YDC.

Dundalk has punched well above its weight in football for a while, and some people are just delighted to have them gone. Especially Sligo fans for some reason.

Dundalk, for me, was genuinely one of the most special places to be on Friday night - and now it seems to have been taken away.

Makes myself question my own attitude to other clubs going like Limerick and Cork. But I guess that is lessons learnt.

Hardly sanctimonious to say your club was in this situation before, had a lucky escape & good turn of fortune and did very little to safeguard against this happening again. Don't need to be mystic meg to see that this was a possibility with the amount of ownership change in recent years and BA's knee jerk decision to buy the club while jumping ship from another project. The speed at which it has happened is the only real surprise here. I would've thought you would make it to at least July next year.

[pineapple stu]

some people are just delighted to have them gone.
Nobody's delighted to see Dundalk in big trouble. But it was inevitable given the way they've been run the last few years. Even this year - €20k/week on wages. Ridiculous stuff. Blatant financial mismanagement that (a) impacts the rest of the league and (b) is basic stuff that should have been learned 20 years ago, in the aftermath of Shels/Bohs/Cork/Derry/Rovers/Dublin City, etc, etc.

But no - instead, despite numerous people predicting this in the past few years, Dundalk have gone full speed ahead into the wall, to bring further disrepute on the league. People get a bit ****ed off about it. And as redobit has said, Dundalk fans even now seem ill-equipped to react (unlike, in fairness to them, fans at the likes of Rovers and Cork, who had something set up - which is bloody hard, to be clear)

You say at the end "I guess that is lessons learnt" - but the frustration is that is seems there's been no lessons learned at all.

[total hoofball]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2024/09/15/fai-interim-boss-says-loophole-meant-all-financial-checks-were-not-carried-out-when-ainscough-purchased-dundalk/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Your answer is there,they didn’t even bother checking due to a “loophole “,another episode from the FAI of the laughing stock genre……
Even with this farcical 'loophole' it still doesn't clear up that 10 months after Dundalk's Premier Division license was awarded the club is on the verge of going out of business based on the same financial accounts and budget submitted for this season by the STATSports regime?

We know STATSports did not put one cent of their own money into the club so after Dundalk losing 500k in 2022 and losing a further whopping 1.2m in 2023 how on earth were Dundalk awarded a Premier Division license for 2024 based on these rotten financials and Dundalk submitting an identical budget for the 2024 season without any additional source of income or financial injections?

The setup on the FAI's licensing system is exposed now that any financial due diligence on new owners is conducted by the previous owners. STATSports who were burning through cash could not have believed their luck the FAI awarded Dundalk a Premier Division license on November 22nd 2023 on rotten financials and fantasy spending projections and they instantly flipped the club to Ainscough with the sale completed a week later knowing Ainscough had empty pockets

Full investigation and audit is required into FAI licensing, STATSports and Brian Ainscough

[2 Year Contract]

Even with this farcical 'loophole' it still doesn't clear up that 10 months after Dundalk's Premier Division license was awarded the club is on the verge of going out of business based on the same financial accounts and budget submitted for this season by the STATSports regime?

We know STATSports did not put one cent of their own money into the club so after Dundalk losing 500k in 2022 and losing a further whopping 1.2m in 2023 how on earth were Dundalk awarded a Premier Division license for 2024 based on these rotten financials and Dundalk submitting an identical budget for the 2024 season without any additional source of income or financial injections?

The setup on the FAI's licensing system is exposed now that any financial due diligence on new owners is conducted by the previous owners. STATSports who were burning through cash could not have believed their luck the FAI awarded Dundalk a Premier Division license on November 15th 2023 on rotten financials and fantasy spending projections and they instantly flipped the club to Ainscough with the sale completed less than 2 weeks later knowing Ainscough had empty pockets

Full investigation and audit is required into FAI licensing, STATSports and Brian Ainscough

https://www.leagueofireland.ie/news/independent-club-licensing-committee-decision-confirmed/

That link is for the 2020 season

[Kiki Balboa]

Nobody's delighted to see Dundalk in big trouble. But it was inevitable given the way they've been run the last few years. Even this year - €20k/week on wages. Ridiculous stuff. Blatant financial mismanagement that (a) impacts the rest of the league and (b) is basic stuff that should have been learned 20 years ago, in the aftermath of Shels/Bohs/Cork/Derry/Rovers/Dublin City, etc, etc.

But no - instead, despite numerous people predicting this in the past few years, Dundalk have gone full speed ahead into the wall, to bring further disrepute on the league. People get a bit ****ed off about it. And as redobit has said, Dundalk fans even now seem ill-equipped to react (unlike, in fairness to them, fans at the likes of Rovers and Cork, who had something set up - which is bloody hard, to be clear)

You say at the end "I guess that is lessons learnt" - but the frustration is that is seems there's been no lessons learned at all.

'Lessons learned' was in reference to not being personally aware of the hardship other supporters have went through in the League - not about football administration.

Anyways... You are complaining about Dundalk fans... I guess you are going to start complaining about Pats and Derry for inflating wages and being relient on a Billionare owner? Surely there fan bases should be organising too? Or is your ire just for Dundalk?

The 1903 has already been established and has raised 20k in a week to keep the show on the road. In a way, the crisis is happening so fast - and to say there is no fan organising is just weird - there are , but it was bypassed.

Anyways, I leave the website here.

Nobody knows anyone else's time and effort into the sport at the different levels - and at times like this , it all feels like it was for nothing.

It's an emotional time - and seeing people put the boot into something that I personally do love, will only wind myself up.

[outspoken]

Just listening to LMFM, Sinn Fein TD Ruairí Ó Murchú seemed to suggest a phoenix club won't be straight forward. I think we can write off next year at the very least

[Kiki Balboa]

You say at the end "I guess that is lessons learnt" - but the frustration is that is seems there's been no lessons learned at all.

I know it is hard for you - but please read the post before you jump on your high horse to quote it.

Honestly, you pollute the place by looking for arguments that were not made.

[WeAreRovers]

Nobody's delighted to see Dundalk in big trouble. But it was inevitable given the way they've been run the last few years. Even this year - €20k/week on wages. Ridiculous stuff. Blatant financial mismanagement that (a) impacts the rest of the league and (b) is basic stuff that should have been learned 20 years ago, in the aftermath of Shels/Bohs/Cork/Derry/Rovers/Dublin City, etc, etc.

But no - instead, despite numerous people predicting this in the past few years, Dundalk have gone full speed ahead into the wall, to bring further disrepute on the league. People get a bit ****ed off about it. And as redobit has said, Dundalk fans even now seem ill-equipped to react (unlike, in fairness to them, fans at the likes of Rovers and Cork, who had something set up - which is bloody hard, to be clear)

You say at the end "I guess that is lessons learnt" - but the frustration is that is seems there's been no lessons learned at all.

This is key and why many people have little sympathy for Dundalk. By the time Rovers went into Examinership, the 400 Club had raised enough cash to see the club through the process. In fact it was the fans who pushed for Examinership and crucially had a plan as well as money.

In contrast Dundalk fans have done sweet FA to save their club despite warnings from all and sundry.

[pineapple stu]

Anyways... You are complaining about Dundalk fans... I guess you are going to start complaining about Pats and Derry for inflating wages and being relient on a Billionare owner? Surely there fan bases should be organising too? Or is your ire just for Dundalk?
Do you not think there's a difference between someone putting money into a club and not putting money into a club? Because the latter is what was happening at Dundalk for ages.

Pat's and Derry are big enough clubs to have supporters' groups anyway (and probably do?)

[2 Year Contract]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2024/09/15/fai-interim-boss-says-loophole-meant-all-financial-checks-were-not-carried-out-when-ainscough-purchased-dundalk/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Your answer is there,they didn’t even bother checking due to a “loophole “,another episode from the FAI of the laughing stock genre……

That’s an absolute disgrace from the FAI.

The absolute cheek to utter this comment also when they literally did not check a new owner at a club which appears to be resulting in the death of the second most successful club in the country


There are a range of other leagues across the contingent that don’t have the same rigour when it comes to the transfer of a club.

[2 Year Contract]

Do you not think there's a difference between someone putting money into a club and not putting money into a club? Because the latter is what was happening at Dundalk for ages.

Pat's and Derry are big enough clubs to have supporters' groups anyway (and probably do?)

Correct, Pats have the Patron Saints which has around 200 members donating monthly into a fund that is controlled by supporters that are voted in, decisions on spends are also voted on by members. The stand behind the goal had to be taken down in 2013, with the deteriorating wooden boards replaced with metal ones, the cost of that stand was paid for by the Patron Saints, hence the name ‘the Patrons stand’. Other more recent projects include renovating the home dressing room last year among many other things. There’s also money kept aside for a doomsday situation like the one that’s happening in Dundalk at the minute