Dundalk FC Supporters Trust to fund new Oriel Park pitch

The Dundalk FC Supporters Trust will help fund the installation of a new playing surface at Oriel Park after productive discussions with new Dundalk FC owner Chris Clinton.

Details of Clinton’s takeover from John Temple—first reported by The Democrat—were formally confirmed last week.

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Although the US-based businessman has not yet spoken publicly since acquiring an 85% stake in the club, he began building ties with supporters during a positive meeting on Wednesday night, which he attended alongside Alan Farrelly, who stepped down as auditor in July but is expected to return to serve on a soon-to-be-established management board.

In the wake of that meeting, the Trust announced it would provide the full deposit required to access sports grant funding for the new pitch at Oriel Park—an upgrade that, together with necessary improvements to the floodlights, is vital for Dundalk to secure a licence to compete in next season’s SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.

In a written statement issued by the club, Clinton said: “The Supporters Trust have brought a proposal to the table to provide the full deposit for the new pitch, and I am delighted to accept that offer.

“While plans for the pitch upgrade were already in motion, the money that would’ve gone towards the deposit is now freed up to be spent elsewhere within the club.

“Having met with the Board of the Trust earlier in the week, I walked away with a feeling that we were very much on the same page, that we are both striving for success on and off the pitch. The Trust provides an additional funding stream to the club, and I hope it continues to grow. I firmly believe that working in partnership with fans to build solid foundations is the only way forward.

“It’s clear that the football club is at the heart of the Dundalk community, and fan engagement in the club is vital. The Trust came together previously in a time of worry to raise funds with a view to assisting the club.

“I hope it can play a significant role in the weeks and months to come, and it is unfortunate that this hasn’t happened sooner.

“Fans have experienced a number of years of instability, and I want them to feel part of a club that has the right structures underpinning it to ensure it’s sustainable into the future.”

Established last year, the Trust—a CLG with a 12-member board and a dedicated secretary—is on course to have raised €100,000 by the end of this year and will convene its next AGM in January 2026.

Gerry Lennon, chairperson of the Trust, remarked: “After this week’s positive meeting with Mr Clinton we discussed amongst ourselves if we could make an offer to the club that was in line with our aims and objectives. Ultimately, we were established to support the club with infrastructural projects, and we were aware that both the pitch and the lights were in need of upgrades ahead of the 2026 season.

“Given our growth in the last 12 months we found ourselves in a position that we could offer the deposit on the new pitch, and we hope that is the first of many contributions.

“We would encourage anyone interested in joining to visit our website: dfcsupporterstrust.ie, and consider contributing in whatever way they can. At the end of the day it is the club, and the players within it, who will benefit from our continued success.”

On the field, manager Ciaran Kilduff has begun preparations for next season, while striker Dean Ebbe—whose 10 goals in 35 appearances helped Dundalk’s First Division triumph—has confirmed that he will not be lining out for The Lilywhites in 2026.

Sean McHale and Rohan Vaughan, both of whom arrived on loan last season, are expected to return to their parent clubs, St Patrick’s Athletic and Queens Park Rangers respectively, with Ethen Vaughan added to the PFAI transfer list alongside JR Wilson.

However, defender Mayowa Animasahun, who was placed on the same list last week, has since been removed and is now expected to remain at Oriel Park next season alongside the already contracted Aodh Dervin, Daryl Horgan, Leo Gaxha, and Vinnie Leonard, whose impressive performances at the FIFA U17 World Cup have attracted interest from Manchester United.

Kilduff is also aiming to bolster his squad with additional Premier Division experience, with Bohemians goalkeeper James Talbot—set to depart at the end of this month after making 141 league appearances for the Dubliners—understood to be on Dundalk’s radar, while the club may also reignite its interest in Drogheda United midfielder Luke Heeney.

Meanwhile, as revealed by The Democrat last week, it has now been confirmed that assistant manager Ken Kiernan and fitness coach Ronan Murray have committed to continuing in their roles for the 2026 season.