Off the field issues overshadow another poor performance

It's an uncertain time for Dundalk FC both on and off the pitch as the ownership of the club is back in the glaze of the media, On the field a defeat to Bohemians 2-1 at Dalymount left the Lilywhites with just one point out of six after just two games.

Bohemians failed to win two games in a row last season. Last Friday night saw them maintain their top of the table position via their 100 percent record, having beaten Cork City the week before.

But the uncertainty over the future of Dundalk seemed to affect the team, as they put in as poor a performance as I have seen from a Dundalk team in a long time.

Off the field news emerged that Hull City owner Acun Ilicali and his representatives were in talks with the owners of Dundalk FC, Andy Connolly and STATSports. 

This was last Monday and the reports said that an agreement was expected to be reached sooner rather than later. Hull were to acquire 70 per cent of the club, with 30 per cent remaining in local hands. This deal seems to now be dead in the water.

There was much unease about such this proposed deal, as reports took hold that Dundalk would be reduced to the role of a feeder club for the English Championship side. This would be opposed by many Dundalk supporters.

Last Friday morning it emerged that an American businessman was also interested in a takeover of the club. It later emerged that evening that a 3rd investor was interested in a takeover. But it is unclear if any are real runners at this stage. 

One of the biggest criticisms I have of the current owners is the lack of communication they have had with supporters since they took control. The Dundalk statement on Friday was signed by Andy Connolly of Fastfix and Alan Clarke and Sean O'Connor of STATSports.

The statement released last Friday was detailed. But it was contradictory. At one point it was said that the club was not for sale, but just repeated the usual words that the club were always seeking investors.

The club statement said that it had been mentioned in the media that the club was being offered around to interested parties a few months ago.  I certainly never saw that in the media, either locally or nationally.

I did see some media saying that the club was for sale. Friday's statement said that the offering of the club to interested parties gave the impression that the owners were desperately trying to sell Dundalk FC. I never got that impression.

It is clear that the club will be sold if the owners get the price they are looking for. They confirmed that the club were involved in discussions with three different groups. They said the discussions centre on all scenarios of investment, shareholding, and ownership. But as already stated, it looks like some of these talks have broken down.

The statement came on the back of comments from the Hull city manager Rossenior. He said there was a massive talent pool in Ireland and that Hull had found in Dundalk a club with a similar identity as Hull, in regards their values and football identity.

The Hull boss said there is no point in his team playing a certain way and Dundalk playing a different way. He said that everything was aligned between the clubs and that a lot of work, thought and planning had gone into this.

In other words, he was saying Dundalk would be a nursery club for Hull, or words to that effect. This is of course completely unacceptable to Dundalk fans. It was the Hull manager's comments that prompted the Dundalk statement on Friday evening.

The Dundalk chairman went on to try to allay the fears of supporters. The statement said the owners always maintained that the future development of the club is much more important than the current owners involvement in the club.

It added that it would be very narrow minded of the owners of Dundalk FC not to explore any opportunity to help improve the support that the club can give to the manager and to begin the process of ground improvement at Oriel. This means the owners are prepared to sell. 

It says that this is all a very unpredictable business. The owners stressed they are keen to make an agreement that will benefit the club, but it will need to be something that genuinely excites them for a deal to be done.

It added that community development, helping Dundalk compete on the pitch and facility improvements are at the cornerstone of all the discussions. 

The owners speak about the importance of community development. This is one area where the owners I feel could have done better since they took over. And they have done little or nothing for Oriel in regards to stadium development either.

On the pitch they have helped Stephen O'Donnell considerably. Though in the close season gone by the Dundalk boss was let down with the failure of not signing any home produced talent.

He was left to the last two weeks of the start of the new season to get new talent in. And the season had started when he was able to sign three more players. These players were simply not given enough time to bed in, which can be seen in Dundalk's poor start to the season.

The current owners must ensure they are not passing on the club to people whose purpose will only be to use it as a feeder for another club. The club needs to hold onto its soul. If that is destroyed by Dundalk FC becoming a nursery to Hull FC or any other investors, this must be rejected.

New owners must operate Dundalk FC as an independent going concern. The new owners should also give a legal guarantee of a new stadium development at Oriel within a few years.

No longer must fans have to sit or stand in the terrible spectator facilities at Oriel. The new owners too will simply also just be handing the keys to Oriel for the price of the YDC. It is the only fixed asset the owners can say is theirs in Oriel. They do not own anything else as the ground is leased.

Thus, the owners are right to be cautious as to who becomes the next owners of Dundalk FC. 

The Bohs Match

It was a bad night on the pitch for Dundalk last Friday. Louis Annesley gave away a silly but fatal free kick on the edge of the box just before half time. Former Dundalk player Jordan Flores bent the ball round the Dundalk wall, curling his effort into the top corner of the net.

Andy Boyle did have a good game for Dundalk in the first half. However, his challenge faded in the second half as the Bohs tide kept knocking on the door of the Dundalk fortress. 

Dundalk were a shadow of the team that won the battle for Europe last season. The attendance was a record high for the past 10 years of 4,432. It was the highest since the Old Connaught Road terraces were closed years ago.

The first half was played at a frenetic pace. Nathan Shepperd pulled off some good saves. Dundalk were dealt a serious blow when Alfie Lewis was struck by a ferocious ball. There was no option but to replace him.

The Bohemians goal came right at the break when Louis Annesley was fouled by ex-Dundalk player Dylan Connolly. It was another Dundalk old boy Jordan Flores who scored the free right on half time.

Bohs came in swarms at the Lilywhites in the second half. Ali Coote had a spectacular shot saved by Shepperd to keep Dundalk in the game.

But Stephen O'Donnell's side were dead and buried when Conor Malley was dispossessed by Paddy Kirk on the halfway line. Malley must take responsibility for the goal. He should never have had the ball taken away from him so easily. Dundalk were completely exposed.

Jonathan Afolabi carried the ball down the inside left channel. He squared the ball to Declan McDaid. He right footed the ball into the bottom corner. 

Dundalk were back in the game six minutes from time when substitute Johannes Yli-Kokko Johannes fired a wonder shot from 35 yards that gave the Bohemians keeper no chance. There were six minutes injury time after that. But Dundalk could offer no more.

Stephen O'Donnell said after the game that his side played really well. I have to disagree with that. I felt Dundalk's performance was reasonable in the early stages of the first half. After that, they just did not turn up.

He thought Dundalk were the better team in the first half. I have to respectfully disagree. The Dundalk manager stressed that his team were controlling the game when they conceded a very sloppy goal.

To me it was Bohemians who were on top when Conor Malley lost the ball for the key Bohs goal. O'Donnell says it was a really poor goal to give away. Both goals were terrible goals to give away.

The Dundalk boss says on the whole he was quite positive about his side. He said he knows people look at points gathered or won. But he is now quite excited with the players he has now assembled.

But this is Dundalk's problem. They should have had a proper team assembled before the first ball was kicked against UCD last Friday week. The three players who came in this week gives O'Donnell the confidence to say he is now happy with the squad. I would not agree with this.

Alfie Lewis has an injury after being struck by a ball he was hit with in the wall when Bohs were taking a free. He was light-headed after that, and the Dundalk boss said he was taking no chances keeping him on.

Robbie Benson and Robbie McCourt remain out through injury, but it's hoped both will return in the very near future. Robbie McCourt is still recovering from his hernia operation, while Robbie Benson has an injury related to his pelvis, but it is not giving concern.

Clancy Cup formation meeting rescheduled

Stephen O’Donnell left enthused by the impact of Dundalk's new signings

Final Thoughts

It's time for this Dundalk team to start picking up points. They have had a dreadful start to their campaign, taking only one point from a possible six. Their form has been poor.

I know I am being hard on the team. But for a club to have success, the opening games are so important. Next Friday night is a must win game at Oriel against St Pat's.

Whatever the owners have to face in the coming weeks, they must tie down players whose contract will expire at the end of the season. Nathan Shepperd must be given a new two-year contract immediately.

Why this did not happen already I cannot understand. I am mentioning Nathan as he is a top-class keeper. Dundalk would be crazy not getting him on board for another two years now.

As the season goes on, he will become the focus of other clubs to do a pre-contract deal for next season. Dundalk must sort this out now. He is a hugely talented keeper.

In fact, he has the potential to be the best keeper the club has ever seen. If the current owners do not agree with me, then maybe the new ones will if there is a change at Oriel. Have a safe week. Be careful out there and please remember to look after each other.