Off-field, not on-field matters the priority for new Dundalk owner Temple

The club was on the verge of going out of existence. 

BACK FROM THE BRINK: A deal to save Dundalk was agreed in principle on Monday night. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

New Dundalk owner John Temple admits he’s in firefighting mode after taking ownership of a club deep in debt and relegation trouble.

Boston-based Dubliner Brian Ainscough confirmed the existence of the club was at stake this week due to a cashflow crisis and the plea resulted in a preferred consortium led by the Barrister being chosen to take on his 80% stake.

The other 20% is to remain in the hands of the four minority investors which the former Kerry FC owner enticed onboard over the past year.

A deal in principle was brokered on Monday night and legal documents exchanged have been signed.

Temple was at Oriel Park on Tuesday, working through the day to formalise the deal and meet with key staff, including the manager.

The club tweeted their signature tune, Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds, to confirm “everything is going to be alright.” Despite interest from other suitors, this was the sole party who progressed to the final stage of talks.

Temple, who hails from nearby Avenue Road in Dundalk, will lead a consortium of investors who’ve agreed to underwrite the players’ current wages until the end of the season.

🖤🤍 pic.twitter.com/559ksf8I49

— Dundalk FC (@DundalkFC) September 17, 2024

They will examine the viability of the club and its facilities going forward, leaving open the possibility of another sale in the off-season.

"Dundalk is a football town and the club is hugely important to all the staff, players and supporters," said Temple.

"We appreciate the concerns raised by all of our supporters in recent weeks and it has underscored what the club means to every one of them."

Acknowledging the club's current position in the league table, Temple said: “We are fully supportive of Jon Daly and the team to get the results required on the pitch. I am more concerned right now about getting the off-field matters sorted.

"We are very grateful to Minister Thomas Byrne who has pledged the Government’s support for our Sports Capital Grant application, which is most welcome, and this is the silver lining for today’s takeover announcement.

"A new Board of Directors will be appointed in the coming weeks and a meeting will take place with staff and players in the next week when everything is finalised.

"Today is a proud day for all associated with Dundalk Football Club."

The new owners will apply for a licence to compete in the 2025 season. 

It was felt this would automatically be in the First Division, due to points deduction sealing the fate of the top tier’s bottom team, but at this stage, there are no immediate plans to enter the SCARP (Small Company Administrative Rescue Process) which hatches writedowns to creditors and triggers the sanction.

Under his consortium vehicle Silverlane Ireland, Temple missed out to Ainscough when the club was made available last year by the previous owners.

The financial malaise, contributed to by legacy liabilities from Ainscough’s takeover last December, led to a recent delay in wage payments to players.

Although it’s believed players were willing to waive this week’s salaries to facilitate extra time for the club to be salvaged, the handover was rubberstamped ahead of Saturday’s trip to Sligo Rovers.

Jon Daly’s side have lost their last three league games, leaving them a point adrift of Drogheda United with one fewer game than their neighbours, six, left to play.

The rivals face off on the final night of the season, Friday. November 1, and the Lilywhites will hope to be still in the equation to leapfrog Drogs into the playoff berth.