Dundalk FC in last-chance saloon as table chaos looms

It’s understood that Brian Ainscough’s efforts to offload his ownership amid a cashflow crisis are floundering, with a consortium led by fellow US-based businessman Jeff Saunders withdrawing their interest over the weekend.

TROUBLED WATERS: Dundalk owner Brian Ainscough. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Dundalk are on the brink of ceasing trading, with their potential withdrawal from the league having consequences in the final race lap for the title and European spots.

It’s understood that Brian Ainscough’s efforts to offload his ownership amid a cashflow crisis have floundered, with a consortium led by fellow US-based businessman Jeff Saunders withdrawing their interest over the weekend.

Meetings this morning will confirm either impending receivership or a last-ditch rescuer.

A third straight defeat at Waterford on Friday left Jon Daly’s side bottom of the table with six games left but the club could be wound up before Saturday’s trip to Sligo Rovers. If that’s the case, the likelihood is their 30 results being expunged.

One immediate repercussion is Derry City leapfrogging leaders Shelbourne into top spot by a point.

Other potential buyers have been hovering but the mounting debts arising from Ainscough’s takeover last December have left the only option of survival on entrance into the SCARP (Small Company Administrative Rescue Process). That’s a 45-day salvage scheme established in 2021 for insolvent companies, similar to Examinership but specifically for entities with 60 or fewer staff.

Dublin-born Ainscough acknowledged the financial difficulties last Monday, confirming delayed payment of wages to players and endeavouring to ensure the club can complete the campaign, due to end on November 1 when facing Louth neighbours Drogheda United.

FAI prize money paid to Dundalk facilitated the latest weekly pay run but the association did not advance Uefa solidarity funding which is due to every LOI club at the end of the season.

Dundalk’s crisis was raised during Saturday’s FAI annual general meeting, initially during the opening speech by president Paul Cooke before the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland outlined their alarm.

General secretary Stephen McGuinness warned of the impending danger to the club’s existence. “I personally think this club could go out of business within the next couple of weeks,” he said.

“It’s a serious, serious problem. Some people seem to think it’s going to be saved but I don’t see that. At this moment in time, there are no wages there for the players next week. The horse has bolted.”

The FAI confirmed they would not step in to pay outstanding wages.

“I’ll answer that one,” affirmed Cooke. “No, we cannot.”

Interim CEO David Courell added: “Ultimately Dundalk is a private enterprise and we need to respect that. We are trying in every way that we can to try and support that and through a challenging period but there are limitations on what we can and should do.

“The reality is we are eight weeks away from the conclusion of the season. It’s been a very competitive league this year, we want to see it come through unimpacted by this.”