Dundalk FC to slash budget for 2025 as survival hopes increase significantly after another dramatic day
Dundalk's new manager Ciaran Kilduff unveiled as club owner outlines new plans to get the Lilywhites back to the League of Ireland's top table
Dundalk FC’s prospects of bouncing straight back up to the Premier Division next year could receive a major boost within the next seven days after their owner, John Temple, revealed they may be able to avoid entering SCARP.
No final decision has been made on the club’s intentions just yet but SCARP - a scheme for small companies entering administration - is one possible venture for the crisis club.
However after yet another dramatic day at Oriel Park, some light at the end of a dark tunnel emerged, with a number of fresh revelations.
They include:
The appointment of a new manager, Ciaran Kilduff, on a two year contract.
A rallying cry from Kilduff to the club’s long suffering fans: “I have the stomach for the fight.”
News that Irish international Daryl Horgan is likely to stay DESPITE the club’s relegation
The overall budget has been slashed to around €500,000 for 2025 - which is, by conservative estimation, a half of their 2024 budget
A commitment by owner Temple to rebuild trust with fans groups
And a firm belief they may be able to avoid entering SCARP which would mean Dundalk are unlikely to receive a points deduction next season.
Read more: James Keddy calls time on stay as Wexford FC manager
First to the Kilduff announcement because after an owner, no one person is as important to a football club as the man picking the first X1.
A former player with the club who scored a famous goal to secure a point against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League group stages back in 2016, he cut an impressive figure at today’s press conference, pulling no punches by saying this was a ‘leap of faith’ on his behalf.
Kilduff elaborated: “This is a great opportunity for me, a club I have great history with. Lets be honest, there has been a dark time for the last while, it’s been a tough situation.
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“ButI would not be here if I did not have the stomach for a fight, if I didn’t believe in what the lads and the people behind the scenes were trying to do to get us back to the days we had not too long ago of being a really powerful football club. I’m here for footballing reasons, nothing else.
“There is stuff outside of my control that I can’t control, but what I can control is that I will give everything to come up here and do my best for Dundalk Football club.
“There are players and supporters here who take pride in the club and I am no different.
“There is a leap of faith in it.
“You are coming into a club that you know has been through a bit of turmoil in the last while.
“There has been trauma, we have just been relegated, you are taking a group of players who have been on a bad run, one win in 15 and who are now in the First Division.
“You are coming into a situation that’s not perfect. There is no point saying it is. There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes and I have a lot of work to do as soon as I get going. My job starts today. It’s League of Ireland football, I have been around it for 20 years.
“There has been dark times before and Dundalk have rose again. Even with the snapshot of Shelbourne the last few years, a club who have had dark days and found their way back. I’m aware this club has gone through some dark times, the supporters too, and that it’s been difficult. The leap of faith will be that this is not perfect right now but I’m here for the fight.”
It seems clear Daryl Horgan is up for that fight too but with the budget set to be dramatically reduced, it remains unclear how many others will be retained.
Young, local players are almost sure to be afforded the opportunity to play and not just because of their affordability but also because of their connection to the club.
Temple, too, has a clear willingness to fight to restore Dundalk’s reputation.
On the SCARP issue, he said: “Running a football club is like being in a haunted house in that things pop out at you from nowhere, things such as hidden costs.
“We have to be realistic. Costs, facilities, travel, they add up but we can’t minimise the budget entirely and bring it to the floor and say, ‘I am only going to give it so much’.
“I don’t know how much it cost to run the club this year. All I do know is that when I came in there were a lot of calls, people saying ‘congratulations’. And then they said, ‘but by the way I am owed so much money and I want it now’.
“Some people were very good to deal with and were willing to sit down and talk while others were quite aggressive. Those with foresight, local businesses in particular, who are owed money, have been fantastic. There is the odd worrier who goes away and gets panicky.
“We were preparing for SCARP. But it is like when you buy car insurance; you hope you will never need to use it.
“The FAI and licensing (department) have said if we go into SCARP, it could affect our license. And they don’t know how because no club has gone into SCARP before. It is a new enough thing in law.
“Very experienced accountants have sat down with me to explain how SCARP works. We know it may affect licensing, the prospect of points deductions. But I am hoping to make some sort of announcement next week whether it is going to be SCARP or not.”
Temple also admitted that the issue of communication between the club and their supporters needed to get getter.
“Absolutely, it does,” the Dundalk owner said. “We want people coming up with solutions rather than problems. We have to foster the relationship with supporter clubs. I am willing to talk to the fans.
“The relationship between the team and the fans has always been there.
“Dundalk has always been the community club and always will be. People might want to work off their own political agenda but my view is that the community aspect to this club is what makes the club’s heart beat.
“We have to be open. Dundalk FC relies on the community. This is your club. There has to be a connection brought back because the goodwill is there. A lot of people have said ‘thank you very much’ for stepping up when the club was on its deathbed and for putting it on life-support. Shareholders, the fans groups, all want the same thing. Some (fans) want it now. But you have to do things by the book in terms of governance, procedure. We can’t do it now.”
Save the final word for Kilduff because his voice will be the most significant one in this ongoing struggle: “This is a footballing town. It always has been. I was here during the great times. I know how much people support this club and when I was playing here I took pride in representing the club. People are not giving up and I have the stomach for this fight and if you are not able for that fight then you are in the wrong game in Ireland. You have to come out on the other side of tough times at some stage and I will give everything for Dundalk to make that happen.”
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