Inside Track: Dundalk supporters hoping Ainscough brings a change of fortune

Whereas Louth senior team has had many new faces at managerial level in the past two decades, the main Dundalk FC changes have been in ownership.

Gerry Matthews was followed as owner by Andy Connolly and Paul Brown. Then came Peak6, and after that StatSports. Now it’s Brian Ainscough.

Connolly and Brown took a punt by naming Stephen Kenny as manager.

The Dub had a decent record, but all that had gone before was eclipsed by what he achieved at Oriel.

The dividend for the boys couldn’t have been greater. League and Cup success had several excellent forays into Europe as a companion. It was arguably the best period in the club’s century-old history.

Vinny Perth must have been paying attention in his time as Kenny’s assistant. When he took over from the then-new Republic of Ireland manager he enjoyed success.

While they pumped plenty of money into the club on talking over, Peak6, an American consortium, got too much involved in football affairs, and were maybe glad in the end to cut their losses.

StatSports, headed by local men, Seán Connor and Alan Clarke, succeeded Peak6, and they, too, wouldn’t have spared the cash. Their involvement, however, didn’t halt the team’s dwindling fortunes.

Now there’s a new face in the director’s box. Brian Ainscough is Irish-born and America-based. He has played in League of Ireland football, and has also been involved here at club managerial level.

There’s no reason to believe there won’t be a good rapport between himself and manager, Stephen O’Donnell. Building a panel capable of making a meaningful challenge for honours this season is the first task facing them.

Given that all the cream has already been licked up in this country, they may have to look across the Irish Sea.

If they can come up with players of the calibre of Steve Williams, Richie Blackmore and, from the distant past, Walter Rickett, they could be going places.