'Dundalk is too big a club to go under,' Damien Duff had no doubts about Lilywhites' survival

Dundalk were close to going out of business at the beginning of the week.

Shelbourne’s manager Damien Duff applauds his fans. Pic: ©INPHO/Lorcan Doherty

Damien Duff insists he always had faith that Dundalk would be saved from potential extinction this week.

The Lilywhites descended towards financial armageddon and despite John Temple rescuing the club on Tuesday wages will go unpaid this week.

Duff’s Shelbourne would have lost their top spot in the table to rivals Derry City had Dundalk being wound up and points from their 30 games expunged.

Instead, they travel to Galway on Friday with a four-point advantage at the summit heading into the final lap of the campaign.

“I always had faith that it would get sorted,” said the Ireland legend.

“Dundalk is too big a club to go under and it is something that could not happen under the FAI’s watch either.

“The league is in such a great place that it could not afford a major, major setback like that. So firstly for the league, it is great and also from a Shelbourne point of view.”

Temple’s Silverlane Ireland consortium took over the distressed asset from Brian Ainscough but the local barrister wasn’t in a position to meet the pay run.

He did, however, assure players and staff during his introductory meeting of contractual commitments being honoured until the end of the season. Beyond that, nothing has been so far guaranteed.

While Temple’s group highlighted a batch of long-term plans when pitching for the club last November before Ainscough took control, the focus for now is purely completing the season and the wage bill under November 30.

Sharing the ownership with additional investors from 2025 is a live possibility.

Jon Daly’s basement side travel to Sligo Rovers on Saturday a point adrift of Drogheda, with only five matches left thereafter.

For the Reds, one of their only four defeats in 29 matches came at Eamonn Deacy Park.

“That game still stings collectively and individually,” the two-time Premier League winner said about the April 2-1 loss.

“It was a game we dominated possession wise but lacked an edge and an intent. John (Caulfield) has done an incredible job and he is a legend of the game but we need to concentrate on ourselves and do what we do best.”