Dark days are afoot for Dundalk

Dark days are afoot for Dundalk FC, who according to The 1903 Supporters Club, might not be in a position to complete their SSE Airtricity League Premier Division season.

Dundalk’s status in the League of Ireland – of which it has been a member since 1926 – appears to be in jeopardy, with their debt reported to be totalling at least €1.2 million.

After manager Jon Daly confirmed that wages had gone unpaid, it is understood FAI prize money has rectified that in the short term, though UEFA solidarity funding, which Dundalk would be due to receive at the end of the campaign, has yet to be advanced.

“I think it’s way worse than people even imagine,” warned The 1903’s chairperson Orla Crilly in an interview with The Democrat. “I think that’s the tip of the iceberg. While we’ve been able to – with the help of the FAI money coming through the door – keep the situation going, I don’t know how much longer that’s all going to last.

“All through the season there was talk of needing extra investors to come in, so that was always there in the background, but until Jon Daly said they all hadn’t been paid, you don’t really know how bad the situation is because you’re just not privy to that information.

“It was really when Jon spoke out that I think myself and everybody kind of went, wow, okay, there are big problems here and I don’t know if there’s a good resolution to these problems that the fanbase are going to be very happy about.

“I don’t know if we will get to the end of the season,” she admitted. “The bills are seriously mounting up. There’s no new investor knocking on the door at this moment in time. The landscape of a change is day-to-day, hour-to-hour, but what I could tell you now mightn’t be true tomorrow, so there isn’t a clear-cut path ahead of what might happen in the next couple of weeks and to the end of the season in Oriel Park.

“We don’t have any control over that. We just have to make sure we’re as ready as possible in the background to face any upcoming scenario that might present itself. I think there’s very likely to be much darker days ahead.”

The 1903, through raising more than €20,000 in the space of a week, were able to ensure that Dundalk’s fixture with Waterford went ahead at The RSC last Friday night.

“We’re delighted how people have backed us and rowed in and it’s been amazing. Even some former players as well have contributed with the expenses in Oriel that we’re trying to meet.

“It’s not to pay anyone’s bills and it’s not to take anyone out of debt, it’s just to support the teams. There was a strong possibility that the transport wouldn’t be available to bring the team to Waterford on Friday if we hadn’t have stepped in.”

The 1903 are to convene a meeting at 8pm this Tuesday night inside the Lilywhite Lounge at Oriel and all supporters, including non-members, are welcome to attend.

“This will be an information evening,” explained Orla. “We’re taking in Niamh O’Mahony, who just finished up on the board of the FAI. She is the COO of the European Supporters Network and brings along an extensive experience with supporting clubs and supporters through different transitions in a club’s life.

“We’ll hopefully have some other guest speakers there as well. We want to give people the correct information on what may be coming, the next steps in their journey as such, and make sure people have the right information about that if things don’t go to plan.

“We’ll lay out what we’ve been doing and the ethos of what we’re trying to do at this point and how we’re trying to plan for the future with Dundalk if we’re needed.”

US-based owner Brian Ainscough was speculated over the weekend to have declared bankruptcy and entered the Oriel Park club into liquidation, however Dundalk acted quickly to dispel such rumours through the following statement on Sunday:

“We are fully aware of the rumours and false information that is circulating on social media this evening. Our owner is in discussions with different groups, domestically and overseas. The next 24 hours is a critical time for the club and we hope that we can get a deal done that keeps us going forward. We will keep everyone updated with any developments.”

It is understood that a meeting will take place today, which could ultimately determine Dundalk’s future as a League of Ireland club, with immediate withdrawal, much like Monaghan United in 2012, presenting a harrowing possibility.

While prospective buyers have been deterred by the substantial debts at Oriel, entrance into SCARP (Small Companies Administrative Rescue Process) could yet save the club.

SCARP is a 45-day salvage scheme established in 2021 for insolvent companies, similar to the examinership process, but specifically for entities with 50 or fewer staff members.

Mr. Ainscough told the Democrat that the rumors of liquidation are untrue and that the club is still 'fighting to secure new ownership'.