The Commentary Box: Dundalk are not relegation certs

Last Friday, a couple of bookies issued their odds on who they felt would be the team that will finish bottom of the Premier Division in the League of Ireland this coming season.

Paddy Power had Dundalk as clear favourites to finish bottom. They are giving 15/8, Dundalk will take the drop or go down automatically.

READ NEXT: Trialists under the microscope as Dundalk step up recruitment drive

Two seasons ago, I would have agreed if the same bookies had forecast that Dundalk would finish bottom and take the drop automatically.

Instead, many of the so-called experts saw Dundalk as being assured of having a stable and possibly successful season. I did not see it like that. From the off, I told friends and colleagues that Dundalk would be relegated.

I could see the mess the club were heading into. Anybody who had half an idea of the club would have seen that the club were in trouble on and off the pitch.

I remember asking Premier League managers at the launch of the 2024 season in Dublin if they thought Dundalk would go down. They looked at me as if I had three heads.

John Caulfield told me there was no way Dundalk would be relegated. I said they would. He shook his head at me and said it would never happen.

He cited all the success the club had under Stephen Kenny and Vinny Perth. John saw it as an impossibility that Dundalk would go down.

This was despite the fact that his own team, the previous season, had knocked Dundalk out of the cup by thrashing them at Eamonn Deacy Park. John could honestly never see Dundalk being relegated.

But the former Cork City manager, whose team had great battles with Dundalk in the years gone by, just did not know at the time that Dundalk were a club in a shambolic state both on and off the field heading into the 2024 season.

They had lost a number of key players over a number of seasons and had never really replaced them. Had Vinny Perth stayed on as manager for season 2022, I firmly believe Dundalk could have stayed up two years later.

With the right backing, he would have even been able to recapture some of the glory years. But that never happened as Perth departed when Andy Connolly and StatSports took over the club from Peak6 in 2021.

Stephen O'Donnell took over as boss in November 2021. He was a very popular choice for the supporters.

Stephen had done so much for the club on the field that many felt he could walk on water and bring the success that Kenny and Perth had brought in the glory years.

But the Dundalk club that Stephen O'Donnell played for was a totally different club that he joined up to manage in 2021.

O'Donnell did manage to guide Dundalk into Europe by finishing in joint second place with Derry City. Nathan Shepherd was the goalkeeper who provided key stability to a porous defence.

He was named the club's Player of the Year and the Supporters Player of the Year in 2022. Nathan played another season for Dundalk in 2023.

He departed the club at the end of that season. His departure was a massive loss to the club. The club did make him an offer to stay.

But he obviously felt it was not enough. The Dundalk team of 2024 still looked good enough on paper. But I knew in my bones that it was not.

The club lost Pat Hoban, Daniel Kelly and John Martin at the end of season 2023 as well. Hoban's departure was the most significant loss. He was told he could leave the club in October 2023 by Stephen O'Donnell.

Whatever the reason was that he was being asked to go, it was an indication that all was not well at the club. Hoban still had another year left on his contract.

But it was clear as the 2023 season went on that all was not well at Oriel. Recruitment of players turned out to be disappointing. Some of the players were simply just not good enough.

I suggested this to Stephen O'Donnell after around six games. It was at Tolka Park. The manager was not happy at the question I had asked. He rejected my point out of hand. The season finished very disappointingly.

As we headed into the 2024 season, it was clear all was not well at Oriel. The team failed to win it's first eight games that season. Sadly, Stephen O'Donnell was dismissed from his job.

It was sad as Stephen had been a hero to many Dundalk fans. He had created so many good memories as a player. The state of the club was not Stephen O'Donnell's fault.

It was unfair to put blame on coaches, players or any particular group of owners or owners. It was a combination of decision-making in the club that left a lot to be desired over a number of years.

The amount of times the club changed owners over such a short spell did not help. It's bound to have created huge instability. The club had four different managers in season 24. When Jon Daly arrived after the mid-season window, it was too late.

He failed to win a single game. A month before the end of the season, the club nearly went out of business. This did not surprise me.

However, after it survived by the skin of its teeth, Dundalk stayed in business. John Temple brought stability and appointed a new manager in former player Ciaran Kilduff.

It was a master stroke. Kilduff's recruitment was top class. He brought together a combination of young and older, experienced players.

For the first time in years, Dundalk had a manager who had great forward planning and thinking. Dundalk made it back to the Premier Division less than a year after they were relegated.

Ciaran Kilduff has assembled a side for next season who he believes has a good chance of staying up. Off the field, the club now appears to be much more stable.

How true that is, only time will tell. But there is a level of confidence around Oriel now that I have not seen in many years.

The new pitch and floodlighting is the first real infrastructure improvement to Oriel in many years. Ciaran Kilduff still has work to do on the playing front. He needs a first-team keeper.

One name I heard who was being linked to the club as a keeper would not, in my opinion, be the answer. This issue, I am sure, is being addressed urgently.

The club also needs a centre half. Mayowa and Vinny Leonard are good central defenders. But an experienced defender in this role is also needed.

The club also needs a striker and a midfielder. They need these four position players to bolster the team into a fighting force in the Premier Division.

Thus, I do not think Dundalk are not relegation certs this season. The club is in much better shape than it was in 2024. The only way is up.

I spoke to the Dundalk captain, Daryl Horgan and asked him how the preparations were going for the new season.

"They are going very well. We have been in training for the past few weeks. It's been good, and it's exciting as well. We have been called back a month earlier than normal, as the season starts a month earlier.

"We will also get back to playing football on the pitch in January with the Leinster Senior Cup games and the planned friendlies as well. We had a great season last year. We worked ourselves to the bone. ]

"It was a hell of a season, last season and one that was really enjoyable. There has been a massive amount of new energy around the place, and we must channel this in the right direction.

"There is a massive energy and feel-good factor around the place. That energy was created among the supporters from what we did in the First Division last season. It is still very much there among the same supporters.

"It was a great achievement to get promotion after one season. I am very much aware that some clubs never return to the Premier Division, and for others, it takes years.

"But I was not surprised that we came back after just one season. You have to remember that a lot of clubs are now full-time. Any full-time club would be expected to come back in one season.

"It is becoming a pattern and will continue to develop. Thus, the relegated Premier Division, if it is full-time, has a great chance of coming back after a season.

"The mixture of the young and experienced players really worked for us. It helped to develop us into a very potent force. And it pushed us on for promotion.

"I would not really call it an injury that I picked up towards the end of last season. But I didn't do it any good by playing those extra games.

"But it had to be done. The injury is fine now. And it will be fine by the start of the season. Hopefully, I will be fine and pushing for my place on the team like we all will be doing.

"The pitch really had to be upgraded. It was needed so much. It had done its time. There have been a lot of games and man-hours put into that pitch. It really was time for an upgrade.

"Taking everything into consideration, things are really looking very exciting at Dundalk again. The upgrading of the flood lighting is also exciting and amazing.

"It truly is great that we can get all of these things done when we have been in such financial difficulty. I can believe that we are ready to face teams in the Premier Division next season.

"We had this objective on our minds every time we played in the First Division last season. Now, of course, we are ready to face whatever or whoever the opposition will be each week.

"I think it is going to be another great season. I am very hopeful that we can even increase our fanbase. It's a long time since I have seen the Dundalk supporters' fan base so excited.

"Things are looking so good for the club now. And we will see a return of many familiar faces from other clubs as well, which will be great.

"We are going to take this season game by game. Every point is going to be crucial, and that's how we will face it. I would say that the Premier Division is always very tight as far as how success can be got.

"Three years ago, Shelbourne were a newly promoted team. Before that, they were hardly ever spoken about. How that has changed.

"Within two years, they were Premier champions by the narrowest of margins. This season, they are back in Europe again by the narrowest of margins.

"They had Damian Duff. Now they have  Joey O'Brien. Rovers have Stephen Bradley, while Pats have our own former boss, Stephen Kenny. All of the managers in the league are strong.

"It just shows how strong the entire league is. We will have to battle for every point. The league will be so competitive. But we are in a good place. Let's see what happens.

"Every team in the Premier Division looks strong and looks to be adding. It is going to be exceptionally tough in the Premier Division this season. We know that. We are under no illusions.

"We are going into this battle in the Premier Division with our eyes wide open. But we will be ready. There is a level we will have to reach. We will not have an opportunity to take our foot off the gas even for a moment next season.

"I notice that some of the national media have already that have been saying that we will be the side that will take the drop. But I have something to say about you, you can be sure of that.

"They can say what they want. We can not change their mindset. All we can do is change our doubters and critics from the start of the season and the way we play. We will do our talking on the pitch.

"That's where it will matter. The national media can say what they like about us off the pitch. We know what we have to do and we will do it.''

"As I said, it's going to be a very tight league. It is going to be extremely tough. Last year, there was a bit of a split in the Premier Division between the teams and those at the bottom.

"But that gap between top and bottom only came on at the backend of last season. There were times when Waterford and Galway were really flying. It looked at times as if they were going to make the European spots.

"We have been very lucky to have a great manager and staff who have been working night and day to assemble a good squad. But this is needed right throughout the season, if we are going to make it in this Division.

"It's a great compliment for me when the manager says he will be calling on my advice and experience when needed.

"But do not forget, we go back a long way. We both know each other very well. Ciaran came in just before the start of last season and really energised the place.

"Myself and the manager have played together in the past. I know I will get brutal honesty at points during the season. He will get the same brutal honesty from me if and when it is needed.

"There will be times when he will want to pick my brain, and I will want to pick his. We built up a good, solid trust between each other.

"That will grow again in the forthcoming season. It's so good to have that as captain; I have the trust of the manager. He knows that I will help in any way I can.

"Finally, my message to the Dundalk supporters is that we are going to be an exciting team to watch. We have a lot of very good players who have joined us in the past few weeks, and those that have stayed with us as well.

"To supporters, I can guarantee that we will be doing everything that is physically possible to get three points in every game we play. Again, I say to our supporters. We will be a very good side to watch.

"So please come and see us play. You, as supporters, have your own role to play in helping us this season. Your support has been fantastic in the past.

"I know that will continue. I had a good Christmas when I was off for the couple of days by a visit from Santa. I also enjoyed my alone time with my family. I love that.

"I enjoyed watching the Christmas movies with the family. I also loved the food. Christmas is my favourite time of the year. I love it.

"Finally, may I wish all the Dundalk supporters a very Happy New Year. I hope everybody has the year that they want. And that everybody can really enjoy their lives.

"My wish for the Dundalk fans is that they have nothing but happiness in 2026. Hopefully, we can help with their happiness in doing well on the pitch."

It was great to get talking to the Dundalk captain. Daryl Horgan is a real leader. His role on the pitch will be so vital.

I think he can lead his charges to a good season as they combat all of the other teams in the Premier Division. Dundalk went down in 2024 because of what was happening on and off the field.

The club was a mess. The fact that there was so many changes in club ownership over such a short period of time contributed so much to the massive instability that hit the club since the Kenny Perth glory days.

The current owners have stabilised the club over the past 12 months. Chris Clinton has opened up the club more to supporters by allowing the Trust to provide the club with much-needed financial support.

The Trust must continue to raise money for the infrastructural development of Oriel. And it was a great step by Mr Clinton to give the Trust a place on the management committee of the club.

The Trust's rep, Tony McBride, is a great choice. He will be a fantastic asset to the club. My Dad, Jim Malone, was very impressed with the younger Tony McBride when he was a trainee accountant with Frank Lynch and Co. Jim Malone was a long-serving accountant in Dundalk at that stage.

It will be 30 years next month since Dundalk tragically lost one of its best chairmen, Eamonn Hiney. Eamonn died in a road accident north of Colon in February 1996 at the young age of only 47. Later that year, in October 1996, the club's longest-serving director, Jim Malone, passed away.

This year will also be the 50th anniversary since Dundalk won the league for the first time under Jim McLaughlin. This is an anniversary the club must do its best to commemorate.

Celtic have reopened talks with Dundalk over teenager Vinnie Leonard. They have been chasing Vinny for over a year. Vinnie signed his first professional deal with Dundalk last season.

It does not come to an end until the end of this season. Dundalk must not let Vinnie go for a song. In other words, a six-figure sum, no matter however high it is.

Vinnie should be going for two million euro. British clubs have been buying Irish players for buttons constantly for years. This has to stop.

Two million euro is still buttons to foreign clubs. But it's still better than a six-figure sum, no matter how high it is. Vinnie will be 18 in July. He could leave Dundalk then.

The club would not stand in his way. If his new club wants him, then or if he himself decides to go then. Technically, Dundalk can hold him until the end of the season coming up.

The fact that Vinnie could be off in the July transfer window must spur Ciaran Kilduff to sign another centre-half. They need one.

As I said already, he must be experienced and have the talent to compete at the highest level. Dundalk also need a Nathan Shepherd-type goalkeeper. If they do not get someone like him, they will be in trouble.

Dundalk's average First Division League attendances at Oriel was 1,854 per game. This is a healthy figure considering there was little or no away support at the Oriel games.

That will change with Dundalk back in the Premier Division. There will be more home support along with a large away support.

As we approach 2026, Dundalk FC can have a lot to look forward to. The owners must not make the mistakes of the past, and the manager and players must get it right on the pitch.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everybody a happy and peaceful New Year. Always remember to be careful out there. Look after each other. And of course, look after yourself as well.