Dundalk FC owner Temple says "Our heads are just above water"

Despite the ownership change, Dundalk FC is far from out of the woods. John Temple has committed to paying wages until the end of the season but admitted that financial struggles remain a significant challenge.

As reported in the Independent the Lilywhites are set to go another week without pay, despite the new owners' recent acquisition of the League of Ireland outfit. 

In a meeting with the squad earlier today, Temple informed them that he requires additional time to finalize his financial plans.

“We are in serious financial difficulty," Temple explained in an interview on the club's official YouTube channel. Creditors are constantly at the door, and there are threats of legal action.

The new owner believes that dumping the club into SCARP prematurely would leave the players with nothing to fight for, especially with critical games on the horizon.

“I have met with the players this morning to explain to them if I was to just dump it into SCARP straight away they have nothing left to fight for for the rest of the season,” Temple said.

“They have a number of big games coming up Sligo at the weekend. Next week we have our first home game of my reign which they didn't think was going to happen against Bohemians.

“It's going to be a cracker of a match one way or the other. It's going to bring the fans again to a club that they didn't think they were going to have.

Temple added: “There are no plans of new stadiums, we are and I have already in the last 24 hours worked very hard with Peter Halpin he has been fantastic as the chief executive.

“He has been outstanding in holding the whole ship together and steering it. Peter has brought me around and Bernard Freeman (head of the women's team) has done fantastic work in the Youth Development Centre.

“Also, Jon Daly – a gentleman. I met him straight off the bat. When the signature was just signed he came back to meet with me and have a discussion.”

“We explained the situation. It's bleak!” said the new owner. “I won't lie we are far from out of the woods. I didn't put us in this situation, the fans didn't put us in this situation, and the players certainly didn't put us in this situation.

“This has been festering and has emanated from before but the reality is that we are where we are and how are we going to get it out? 

“It needs patience from everybody but it is also going to need support from everybody immediately and that is the important thing.

“So in the next few weeks, we are going to be opening up the gym to the public and we are looking for their support. The indoor pitches are going to be opened every day for use.”

Temple concluded by stating: “We have a number of events which we are going to be holding in the coming weeks and at least then players and supporters can all come together and it creates more than just coming up for a football game at Oriel Park, it will create a hub and a hive.

“But by no means are we out of the woods. Every time a euro seems to come into the bank account somebody is looking for two euro out. Our heads are just above water right now and at that's it's even difficult.”