Daly: We can’t look too far ahead

Dundalk FC manager Jon Daly says the past few weeks have been the most challenging of his career to date, with the Oriel Park club this week battling to remain in existence.

The Lilywhites issued a statement on Sunday outlining a “critical” 24 hours ahead, while PFAI general secretary and ex-Dundalk defender Stephen McGuinness warned at Saturday’s FAI AGM that the club could go under “within the next couple of weeks.”

Daly, who succeeded Noel King in the Oriel hotseat at the end of May, spoke of the difficulties he’s faced after last Friday night’s 2-1 defeat to Waterford at The RSC.

“It’s one-hundred percent (the biggest challenge),” he said. “I’ve been in some sticky situations before and no doubt in the future as well, but this is a tough situation we’re in at the moment.”

At the time of writing, Dundalk are due to travel to The Showgrounds this Saturday night (kick-off, 7.45pm) for their next SSE Airtricity League Premier Division fixture against Sligo Rovers – but the result of a meeting on today will determine whether or not a 98-year run in League of Ireland football is to continue for The Lilywhites.

“It’s a very tough spot we’re in at the moment and we can’t look too far ahead,” continued Daly. “We’re looking towards Sligo next week and see what comes.

“It’s a game that we feel we can win. We’ve played them a couple of times previously and we’ve played well against them, so we need to bring that same level.

“The games that are coming up are games that we feel we can win. It’s just about trying to make sure that when the opportunities present themselves, we take them and we don’t give anything cheap away.

“But I get what you’re saying about the long-term, finishing the season, et cetera. We’re not looking at that. We’re just looking at next week.”

A disillusioned Daly continued: “I’m very focused on what’s next and what’s next is Sligo. I can’t effect, I can just control what I can control and that’s getting prepared for Sligo.

“If other stuff happens around about that, then it happens and we just need to adapt and deal with it. It’s not an ideal situation, certainly not, but the lads will be well prepared for the game next week as they have been tonight.

“We can’t legislate for the goals we’ve given away (versus Waterford). They’ve been really poor goals that we’ve conceded tonight and we’re disappointed with that and we’re disappointed that we’ve not converted the opportunities that we’ve created.

“Obviously you do have an eye on the longer term, but in this situation I’ve taken my eye off that and just focused on the short term. When I came in, my first objective was to try and keep the club in the league.

“That still is the objective, it’s still the target. There’s stuff that you wouldn’t have anticipated that can impact that, but that’s where we’re at and stuff we have to deal with, so it’s not ideal.

“I’m not looking past Sligo. We’re going to look to that and try and get three points on the board and try and get ourselves off the bottom of the league.”