Dundalk licencea ‘formality’

Dundalk are fully confident of taking their place in the Airtricity League Premier Division this season despite being the only club to be awarded a conditional licence yesterday.

The FAI announced that Dundalk had received a conditional licence because the Licensing Committee required further information regarding the transfer of ownership of the football club.

However, Dundalk were quick to allay any fears about their participation in the coming season.

In a statement, the club said: “Over the past six months, the process of transferring the club’s licence to the new company in control of Dundalk FC has been ongoing. This has been a very complicated process due to the uniqueness of this situation. Dundalk Football Club has received a request to provide one further piece of information to the licensing committee. This is a formality and will be concluded in the next 24-48 hours.”

Bohemians, Bray Wanderers, Cork City, Derry City, Drogheda United, Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne, Sligo Rovers, St Patrick’s Athletic, UCD, Athlone Town, Longford Town, Waterford United, Limerick and Dundalk (Conditional) were all awarded Premier licences — though not all, obviously, will be competing in the top-flight — while First Division licences have been given to Mervue United, Wexford Youths, Salthill Devon, Finn Harps and Cobh Ramblers.