The Commentary Box: Next few weeks will be crucial in the long history of Dundalk FC

Twelve years ago Dundalk stood on the brink of extinction. Their then owner Gerry Matthews was pulling out of the club, a year after the country had hit its worst financial crisis in decades. Gerry had saved the club years earlier as the then owners, made up of a co-op of supporters, could no longer keep the club going.

I remember  Gerry  Matthews in an interview with me painting a very bleak future for Dundalk. Gerry had put his own money into the club, stabilised it and saw it end a seven year long barren spell in the First Division. But when the country was hit by an economic crisis that was one of the worst ever,  Gerry had done all he could do for the club.

I remember when Gerry spoke to me in an interview explaining that he was pulling out of the club and how he feared for its very future. Nobody believed that a club of Dundalk's stature could fold. I was asked about the interview I had done with Gerry on RTE. Again there was disbelief among other clubs let alone supporters that Dundalk were staring into the abyss.

But always when there is adversity, lurking in the background there is positivity. There had been word for some time that another group was interested in taking over the club. The interest came from the owners of local business Fastfix. Andy Connolly and Paul Brown stepped in and saved the club. They were heroes quite rightly in everybody's eyes.

And of course they were. They took over during the 2012 season. It was a very tough season to come in and take over. The club survived relegation by the skin of their teeth in a play off with Waterford.

The new owners set about preparing for the new season. Within a month of survival they brought in Stephen Kenny. The rest as they say is history. The club had unprecedented success domestically and on the European front. Everybody in the country were talking about the club from Clare, to Limerick to Donegal and back to Louth.

The club was sold in 2018 at a profit to American Business group Peak6. It was the first sale of the club that was not done in a crisis. Their ownership started very well with Dundalk winning two League titles in 2018 and 2019. Peak6 lost manager Stephen Kenny in November 2018 to the FAI who later went on to become Republic of Ireland manager. Kenny's assistant Vinny Perth took over.

He won the League title, the EA Sports Cup and lost on penalties in the FAI Cup Final to Shamrock Rovers in his first season. Covid hit a month into the new season of 2020. Bill Hulsizer was now chairman of the club and continued in that position until Peak6 left the club before the start of season 2022.

In May 2020 Vinny Perth was let go by Bill Hulsizer in what was a disgraceful decision. An unknown coach Filippo Giovagnoli took over as head coach. Filippo guided Dundalk to win the FAI cup in 2020 and the group stages of the Europa League.

 But it was under his time that Dundalk lost some of the best of the Stephen Kenny players. Bill Hulsizer was exerting much influence in first team affairs. The situation was intolerable. At the start of season 2021 Jim Magilton came in as CEO. He ended up as manager for a while. Filippo was demoted to ordinary coach just before the start of the season. Shane Keegan took over as manager forty minutes before a pre season press conference. Shane lasted a short period as manager.

On the field Dundalk were doing badly as they hovered dangerously close to the play off zone. Eventually Vinny Perth returned and guided Dundalk to mid table safety. But Dundalk's season was helped greatly by the return of Peter Cherrie as first team goalkeeper.

Protests against Peak6 grew among supporters towards the end of season 2021. They pulled out, leaving the club with a fine gesture of €1.4 million in the bank. The new owners were Fastfix again. This time it was Andy Connolly on his own. Paul Brown did not return. STATSports became joint owners with Andy Connolly. Alan Clarke and Sean O'Connor the new owners. The future seemed bright and secure.

Stephen O'Donnell was appointed as manager in December 2021 and in season one delivered entrance to the Europa Conference League. It soon became clear in year one that the new owners were media shy and rarely communicated with supporters. This continued this season and frustrated many. Stephen O'Donnell was left to sign players late for the start of the new season. It was not his fault.

Hull City came in with a takeover bid in February 2022. In the end this did not happen. Supporters did not think the club was in any kind of financial difficulty. The club always said they were looking for new investors. But when Dundalk were knocked out of the cup by Galway the gates of Europe were effectively closed. They did have outside hopes of getting into Europe through the League. They died on the final day of the season. Not getting Europe saw Dundalk miss out on at least €250,000. The club earned around €550,000 through the 2023 European campaign. Thus there was no money for 2024 from Europe.

Rumours were rife in the week of the last home game that the club was in trouble financially. But the club confirmed nothing. They maintained a discrete silence which is of course their right. The story of Pat Hoban being told he could find another club came like a bolt out of the blue. This emerged 24 hours before the Bohemians game. This signalled to the supporters and the media there was something seriously wrong. A club does not tell their best ever goal scorer that he can go unless it is in trouble financially. 

The club reacted with a statement nearly stating they were looking for additional investors and that there were ongoing talks as such. But the days have grown into weeks. Stephen O'Donnell has had to sit by and watch other clubs sign new players while he can do nothing. This can't be easy for the current owners as they seek new investors.

However there can be no doubt that it must be hard for the owners to concede they may have to hand control of the club to new owners. This can hold up talks and can lead to possible investors even pulling out. It often happens in takeover situations.
There is no evidence at all that this has happened in takeover talks of Dundalk. But when people have put blood sweat and tears into a club they love, it can be hard for them to let go. My earnest advice to the current owners is it's time to let go, if you really believe that there is a good investor there that can bring the club cup forward and that wants full control. I am sure the owners would do that.

I have seen many potential good investors lost in the past because the owners of a business held on for too long, because they just could not let go. To me the owners of Dundalk must realise that it may well be time to let go. The club belongs to the people of the town. They do not want to see Pat Hoban walk out the door after being told that he can go. The people of the town also do not want to see a mass exodus of the current squad which is happening. The owners did themselves no favours at the way they handled the Pat Hoban issue.

This has left a very sour taste in the mouths of the supporters. If he does go I would be fearful that next season a lot of supporters may vote with their feet and stay away from games.

I was confronted by a large group of supporters at the big function to celebrate Pat Hoban becoming the greatest goal scorer at the club of all times. They wanted to know whose decision it was to let Pat go. They wanted to know if he was being let go. All I could say is that I knew as much as them. But it's an absolute disgrace that two weeks on from the news that the club have failed to even issue a statement as to why they told Pat Hoban he could go.

The current owners have shown scant regard for improving even the basic facilities at Oriel and have made little attempt to do anything. The state of the gents toilets beneath the stand was disgusting in the last few  games of the season and before. They had been left in the exact same condition as they had been from the previous home game weeks before the Bohemians game. I have been told that the outside toilets are even worse.

The new owners, if there are any, need to take a good look at the fact that a new pitch will be needed in season 2025.This will require around a million euro. Money also needs to be found for upgrading works on the YDC building. Thus new owners will be faced with an immediate infrastructure bill of around €1.2 million within 12 months.

Manager Stephen O'Donnell told supporters at the Pat Hoban function that the situation would become a lot clearer this week. Then he issued a rallying cry that Dundalk will be back. The supporters in the room erupted with joy. I await to see what is this outcome he speaks about.

The investment needs to be significant if the club is to remain competitive. They will have much to do. They must prove to the FAI that the club is solvent and can participate in top level football here next season when they apply for a new Premier Division licence. Failure to show the club is solvent could result in the club being automatically relegated.

This is the worst that can happen. I am sure new or existing owners will not allow this to happen. So the new investors have much to do. But in the background supporters should remember that clubs have been automatically relegated in the past if they can not get the club on to a stable basis.

The first thing that must be done is for the club to sit down with Pat Hoban and sort whatever problem there is out properly. Pat should be staying with Dundalk. It's the club he wishes to finish his career at. It's utter madness to let him go. One supporter said that Pat was far more than just the best striker in the league in the last decade. He is the top scorer in the club's history. The fan said that most importantly, Pat is one of our own. They said he bleeds black and white. He is embedded in the town. The supporter says fans do not deserve to see the club's best striker being let go by the owners and that Pat does not deserve to be treated like this either. I have to say I fully agree with this statement.

Unless there is new investment the following out of contract players look set to move. Nathan Shepherd's contract runs out at the end of December. His agent is talking to clubs in the UK. Dundalk could have got him on a new two-year contract last January. His agent looked for a small enough increase in his weekly wages. The club would not give it to him.

Greg Sloggett is not returning. John Martin is talking to Waterford while Archie Davies although in contract is wanted by Shamrock Rovers. Louie Annesley favours a return to the UK while Alfie Lewis and  Robbie McCourt are also on their way out the door.

Cameron Elliott looks certain to return to Scotland. Keith Ward has also left the club. Peter Cherrie I am sure will be kept on as reserve keeper. But he could be in line for goalkeeping coach with Dermot O'Neill having left the club. Sam Durrant is one player the manager wants to keep along with under 19 star Senan Mullen. It's likely the manager will also keep Anthony  Mayo. The manager also wants to keep Robbie Benson. He had expressed hopes of keeping John Mountney. He has gone to Sligo. Daniel Kelly was officially announced as a  Derry City player last Friday. Derry can sign any players they want as they are the wealthiest club in the country along with Shamrock Rovers. 

Connor Malley could also be leaving along with Hayden Muller. However Dundalk are believed to have options on both players to sign for the club next season. Ryan O'Kane has one more year on his contract to go as has Andy Boyle. Sean Gannon was released by Shamrock Rovers. Sean is one of the best right fulls Dundalk has ever had. He won four  league titles with Dundalk, one with Pats and four with Shamrock Rovers. He would be a great capture for Stephen O'Donnell. But do not be surprised if he is not off to Tolka Park and Shelbourne within the week.

Darragh Leahy has a year of his contract to go. But it's thought he will be leaving Oriel as well. It's firmly believed he is also on his way.

The Pat Hoban tribute night was a roaring success. It's primary aim was to raise funding for three of Pat's favourite charities. These are the Gavin Glynn Foundation, Lust For Life and Women'sAid Dundalk. There were tears shed in the room as one young child told of how much one of Pat's cancer charities had helped him and is helping so many others. The young man said that the charity does so much for young people and their families. He spoke so well. It was a great source of information to everyone attending.

Women's Aid Dundalk were also in attendance. They paid huge tribute to Pat for all of his fundraising for the organisation. They said that he had brought attention to so many at how vital a support their organisation is for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. Pat has worked tirelessly for Women's Aid. Much more funding was raised at last Friday's event.

The manager of League champions Shamrock Rovers Stephen Bradley also paid a huge tribute to Pat Hoban. Stephen said that he knew all about Pat Hoban, but knew nothing about the huge work and large amounts of money he raises for charities. Stephen's son Josh was hit with cancer over a year ago. It so happens that the type of cancer that Josh suffers from is one of the charities Pat does fundraising for. Stephen says it was only when he started to look into the work that Pat is doing off the field that he realised what a special type of person he was.

He had begun his off the field research in to Pat when asked to attend Friday night's function. He described Pat as being an incredible person. He said that once he saw the charity work Pat was doing, it was enough reason for him to be there on Friday. He says the work Pat does is not for likes on social media. He just does it because he is a good man.

Stephen said that football management becomes irrelevant if your child is struck down by a serious illness. The Rovers boss says he had no option but to stand up and fight to combat his son's illness. He also says he has been very lucky to have had an incredible woman. Paying tribute to his wife Stephen said that she has been an incredible help to him. He said she gives him special strength to do what he does on a daily and weekly basis. He says when an illness such as Josh's happens a family must become very close and this is what they have done. Stephen said Josh's illness has also been tough on his two older children who are twelve and thirteen.

He says the intensive chemo Josh has had to go through has not only been hard on his son himself but also on his other two children. He says the conversations the two older children have had with Josh have been powerful. They were innocent conversations, but they had been so helpful.

The Rovers boss says that on the field Pat has always been a magnificent player. When he plays, he obviously is as he is. Pat is nasty on the pitch but that's what makes him the player he is. Good players have to have that.

Stephen paid tribute to the great Kenny Perth teams. He said in the early years Rovers tried to catch Dundalk. But time and time again players like Hoban would score in the dying minutes and win. Bradley says that the Kenny Perth teams were simply magnificent.

Stephen O'Donnell says that his striker was so hugely talented. It was a glowing tribute from the current Dundalk boss. He says that while out of work Hoban was so good that Stephen Kenny came down to see him play for Mervue. This was great pre-planning by the future  Dundalk boss as Hoban was one of the first players Kenny brought to Oriel Park in 2013.Kenny while out of work went around the country watching players he knew he could have in his next team. Luckily that team was Dundalk. O'Donnell also said Pat was a great player. His goal scoring record spoke for itself.

Stephen also revealed how his young child had become ill recently. He and his wife ended up in Crumlin Children's hospital. The diagnosis was pneumonia. It was a great worry for the couple for a time. He said it was at times like that when it hit him how insignificant everything else in life is bar family. Stephen's child is now thankfully recovering.

Former manager Vinny Perth paid a great tribute to Pat Hoban. Vinny said that Pat was always a top class player with Dundalk. Hoban as a striker was unique. He was an inspirer on and off the pitch which was immense.

Former Dundalk assistant boss Ruaidhri Higgins described Hoban as a rare striker who was a truly gifted player. Hoban on and off the pitch was a very special player to have on your side.

Pat was presented with the Jim Malone Leading Goal Scorer of the Year Award at the end of the function. A decision was made by the Malone family that Pat should keep the trophy for good in recognition of his becoming the club's all time leading scorer.
Whoever is the owner of Dundalk when the expected announcement takes place should take a good look at the great turn out at the Lisdoo last Friday. I am sure the same 370 people and more would turn out if there was a fundraiser for the club itself.

But the current owners never looked to fundraise publicly for the club. They failed to see just how fundraising and other projects could integrate community involvement with Dundalk. In many ways the club owners missed the boat on tapping into an excellent chance of making Dundalk a community club. Under the current owners this certainly has not been the case.

Sadly, Stephen Kenny will probably take charge of the Republic of Ireland for the last time in a friendly against New Zealand at the Aviva in Dublin. Kenny's last game in charge of Ireland in a competitive game was last Saturday against Holland in Amsterdam. Ireland lost 1-0 in a terrible game.

Stephen Kenny has done a lot of good things as manager. He has brought in a totally new squad. They are all youngsters who would never have been brought into the senior team at this stage. Kenny has filled the Aviva. Season tickets for next year's international season have been completely sold out. This has never happened before. He is a top class manager who came with nothing as boss. Now Ireland have a squad who will compete. But it will be under a new manager. Managers live or die by results. Stephen Kenny's results have not been good enough.

So Dundalk can expect to hear news at last this week, about new investors coming into Oriel Park. I hope they get the majority shareholding, as the club needs new leadership and new ideas. I, like all supporters, will eagerly await keenly to see what happens.

Look after yourselves. And please be careful out there.