It’s probably worth considering that the exact same issue was in place for the last 3 years when DFC were awarded a PD licence. This being, the current owners were in effect sub leasing the ground from Matthews who held (and still holds the ownership of the lease), with the actual ownership of the ground being retained in trust by Des Casey family in a long term deal to the Football Club. This deal also prevents the ground from being used by anything else other than football.
Nothing has changed this year, and the 3 main parties are as you were, however the owner of the lease has put in an objection it would seem to the FAI in a clear move to demand a payment. The issue over the lease will still need to be resolved long term, as it is this very thing that is preventing the club applying for capital sports grants and FAI assistance for the much needed ground redevelopments.
I don’t see Matthews handing it over the lease for nothing, so a payment will probably need to be agreed at some point. As for the YDC, that’s a whole separate issue which he is trying to attach to the terms of the lease. I don’t think his objection will prevent Dundalk from playing in Oriel Park in 2016, however this obviously won’t just go away, and all parties need to get around a table and soon and sort it out for once and for all.
I think we can expect some sort of comment from DFC on this in the next few days.
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