Hull City owners to take majority stake in Dundalk?

**pineapple stu** · 06/09/2024, 8:16 AM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

It was in a post match interview with LMFM. The audio is on their twitter.

Thanks. It's on RT� as well now actually.

**ger121** · 06/09/2024, 8:47 AM

Players going without wages�and so it begins�

**nigel-harps1954** · 06/09/2024, 8:47 AM

Haven't had an asterisk on the league table in a few years now. Fair play Dundalk.

**Another Bohemia** · 06/09/2024, 9:19 AM

Originally Posted by redobit

Yeah it was 2012 and all points gained against Monaghan were removed. It was the year we won the league and it made things a lot tighter at the top of the table as we were the only team to have won all our games against them, so it didn't go down too well in the NW as you might expect.

Different scenario here Id say. Mons folded, cant see that happening with Dundalk. More likely a points deduction and players are released from their contracts as free agent to sign for new clubs. A long way to go before than happens mind.

Yeah I suppose my thoughts were is there a winding up order already in progress in the background from other people owed money? Usually the playing staff signalling their lack of payment is the last stop on the train to folding. Before that other bills would have been pushed aside, usually the tax man would be unpaid at this stage as well. Worrying signs tbh. They may scrape to the off season but it'll be a long tough winter if that's the case

**LTFC** · 06/09/2024, 10:00 AM

This is a bit more worrying than the other cases we have had in the past. I could stand corrected on this, but the clubs that have dropped out and come back are able to do so mainly because there is no significant asset on their balance sheet - ie they dont own a ground, Galway, Cork, Treaty/Limerick, Waterford. Where they do own the ground the risk of debt is that there is an asset that can be sold to pay debt, and potentially lose the ground. I appreciate we are only hearing breaking news, but this is a worry for one of our stalwart clubs.

**holidaysong** · 06/09/2024, 10:11 AM

Dundalk FC don't own the site that Oriel Park sits on though, it is owned privately and leased to the club. Which could possibly be a blessing in disguise here.

**dundalkfc10** · 06/09/2024, 11:58 AM

It's obvious now why Ainscough was so mad the Pats game was called off 2 weeks ago

I'd imagine the income from game was due to cover the wages and that's why he is telling them they will get them in a few days

Worrying times all the same.

The biggest issue even if we do stay up, no Prem Division licence unless the pitch and floodlights are upgraded. That's going to cost a few hundred grand (although I do know we have applied for some grant to cover some of this, James Rogers mentioned it on his podcast)

**JC_GUFC** · 06/09/2024, 2:18 PM

Originally Posted by redarmyfaction

And he was stealing a living in terms of availability in his last period at the Showgrounds.

Injured on the first day of this season too and has missed half the season. Finally seems to be getting back to fitness. Caulfield seems to love him as he was selecting him despite being clearly unfit for a few games.

**oriel** · 06/09/2024, 2:32 PM

Even if Dundalk manage to see out the season and somehow get to and win a play off, I can't see us getting a PD licence after the last 72 hours of events.

We are either in the FD in 2025 already or worse wound up and have to re-form, unless something spectacular happens, and that's highly unlikely, we could be looking at this very shortly:

DFC* 1903-2024

*Formed as GNR / then Dundalk GNR, but there were direct links, and first season in LOI was 1926 I think, so not far off 100 continuous seasons in the LOI.

**Mr A** · 06/09/2024, 2:35 PM

It's a tough tough business. With wages spiraling and 'investors' at a lot of clubs it's hard going. If you cut the budget too far you end up in trouble anyway as fans and sponsors rapidly lose interest. Hope Dundalk come out of it OK.

But I fear there are turbulent times ahead for the league, not just Dundalk.

**holidaysong** · 06/09/2024, 2:40 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

Even if Dundalk manage to see out the season and somehow get to and win a play off, I can't see us getting a PD licence after the last 72 hours of events.

We are either in the FD in 2025 already or worse wound up and have to re-form, unless something spectacular happens, and that's highly unlikely, we could be looking at this very shortly:

DFC* 1903-2024

*Formed as GNR / then Dundalk GNR, but there were direct links, and first season in LOI was 1926 I think, so not far off 100 continuous seasons in the LOI.

1926/27 was the first LOI season. The 'GNR' part of the name was dropped after 4 seasons.

**JC_GUFC** · 06/09/2024, 2:50 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

It's a tough tough business. With wages spiraling and 'investors' at a lot of clubs it's hard going. If you cut the budget too far you end up in trouble anyway as fans and sponsors rapidly lose interest. Hope Dundalk come out of it OK.

But I fear there are turbulent times ahead for the league, not just Dundalk.

I think the learnings from Dundalk and others before them, which are never learnt, is to actually invest in the club when the going is good, and not just the first team.

It's been point out over and over that all of Dundalk's "winnings" from Europe were just spent on players bonuses and wages in subsequent years.

Galway United don't have a whole lot of tangible assets from the Comers' investment but the big project the club are working on is a training base which would be an absolutely huge achievement for the club if it could be gotten over the line.

Shamrock Rovers could be on shaky financial footing if they miss out on Europe for next season, which isn't beyond the realms of possibility, but Tallaght Stadium has been improved beyond all recognition and although Rovers don't own it they're the anchor tenants.

For the first time in my lifetime following the league there is at least talk of government support for clubs, so although Dundalk may be in a terrible situation at the moment I actually think the future of the league is looking very positive.

**LTFC** · 06/09/2024, 2:54 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

It's a tough tough business. With wages spiraling and 'investors' at a lot of clubs it's hard going. If you cut the budget too far you end up in trouble anyway as fans and sponsors rapidly lose interest. Hope Dundalk come out of it OK.

But I fear there are turbulent times ahead for the league, not just Dundalk.

Its the hope what kills you! As my club struggles at the foot of the 1st you do ask is it worth it....but then you realise that there may a few emperors new clothes clubs out there and if you stay in the mix well you never never know.

If you had told me that Dundalk, who in 1 year earned almost as much as they had in all their previous years, would now be short of money, I would not have thought it possible. If I recall correctly, the earnings from europe that year, which were then held up by the FAI , also hastened the departure of the FAI CEO.
Can I ask a stupid question, where did the money go?

**oriel** · 06/09/2024, 3:00 PM

Originally Posted by LTFC

Its the hope what kills you! As my club struggles at the foot of the 1st you do ask is it worth it....but then you realise that there may a few emperors new clothes clubs out there and if you stay in the mix well you never never know.

If you had told me that Dundalk, who in 1 year earned almost as much as they had in all their previous years, would now be short of money, I would not have thought it possible. If I recall correctly, the earnings from europe that year, which were then held up by the FAI , also hastened the departure of the FAI CEO.
Can I ask a stupid question, where did the money go?

Per my post yesterday, most of these points:

Legacy issues and poorly managed from at least 3 previous owners have all contributed to this mess.

When p6 left, there was 2.1 M or so in the bank, and the then owners led by StatSports just ran that money down in 2 years, and still made a loss even with 500k euro monies in.

A huge gripe with Dundalk fans was the money not invested from 2016-pre covid on any spectator improvements. 2 new pitches were installed (1.6M), YDC re-fitted, new gym, players canteen, new dressing rooms, video room, add in 500k or so paid in legacy planning fees for the actual building (back to a previous owner), new club offices, new merchandise shop, can't think of more but that was it really, absolutely zero to show for it, spectator improvement wise.

Group stage 2020 profits would only have funded post covid, and also to add the 2016 group stage apart from all of above in bold was all spent on player budgets during the Kenny era, all it achieved really was winning the 2018 and 2019 league, then the cup in 2020 on the final whirlwind.

Attendances are hoovering around 2,200 to 2750, comparing that with even Shels or Pats its around 1,500 below (20k min ticket sales less per game).

The club has been badly run since almost to the day that p6 (part 2) took over, this would be a year after Kenny left, and probably after the end of the last league title season of 2019, enter Mad Bill, then Covid, then P6 part 2 turned toxic, then StatsSport led group took over at end of 2021, stayed all of 2022 and 2023, didn't spend a single cent of their own money, each season DFC were the final club to tie down players, they then left end of 2023, then enter the mostly unheard of one man show that was Ainscough end of 2023, and this is where its at now.

He obv didn't do his due diligence, there seems to be tax issues, local supply debts, he didn;t raise the investment he was talking about.

**Buckett** · 06/09/2024, 3:06 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

Even if Dundalk manage to see out the season and somehow get to and win a play off, I can't see us getting a PD licence after the last 72 hours of events.

We are either in the FD in 2025 already or worse wound up and have to re-form, unless something spectacular happens, and that's highly unlikely, we could be looking at this very shortly:

DFC* 1903-2024

*Formed as GNR / then Dundalk GNR, but there were direct links, and first season in LOI was 1926 I think, so not far off 100 continuous seasons in the LOI.

There's a lot to be said for a well-made DVD and PowerPoint presentation

**LTFC** · 06/09/2024, 3:10 PM

Thanks for that.
It is a salutary lesson. If a club does get a large , and lets be honest unexpected windfall by Irish soccer standards, on how to blow it!

**dansultheman** · 06/09/2024, 3:17 PM

From a Kerry FC point of view, looks certainly like we dodged a bullet. Perhaps Kerry's occupancy in the League could have been very short lived.

**Hitman** · 06/09/2024, 3:37 PM

Has Fran Gavin popped up to claim credit for creating the environment yet?

**BonnieShels** · 06/09/2024, 4:37 PM

Originally Posted by Hitman

Has Fran Gavin popped up to claim credit for creating the environment yet?

Is he still burrowed away in Abbotstown? How he ever kept his job was beyond me.

**wonder88** · 06/09/2024, 7:58 PM

Yes I recall the Anto Murphy of Bohs long throw now that's it mentioned. A great asset to have for any team, which I think will become more popular.
Sad situation about Dundalk. If games are going to be moved against the participation agreement there need to be a financial compensation for the club that is not in Europe. What Stephen Kenny was looking for recently went against any sense of fair play, so whoever in the FAI over-ruled the head of the league has questions to be asked of.
However Dundalk, or any club should not be living day to day to cover their working capital. What been posted here shows how bad the management off the field has been at Oriel in recent years. It is also a warning to other clubs if the player wage bills are not brought under control in the league soon.