This is an open letter to the board of Dundalk Football Club regarding the recent events that have been reported within Local and National media sources.
The fans are concerned. We would like some clarity.
Recent Media Reports:
The last few weeks and days have been difficult for many, if not all, Dundalk FC Fans, the performances on the pitch have not been up to the standards we have set from recent seasons. This is not for the want of trying from our players and management staff.
The world has seen an unprecedented upheaval in what we called normal, and while our season grounded to a halt in March of this year, Peak 6 continued to pay our players and staff their full wages throughout this pandemic, a move that was highly appreciative by all who support this club.
The players and staff we have at our club are of the highest quality within the League Of Ireland, we are blessed as a club to have these people represent our club on a daily basis, they have and will continue to do us proud for many years to come.
But, as a supporter of this wonderful club, one which i have supported since i was a child, I have become concerned by the reports within the local and national media of issues within the club, issues that are affecting the performances on the pitch.
Board interference in Team Affairs:
It has been reported that the CEO, Bill Hulsizer, has been interfering in the team selection process within the club, this process has always and should always remain separate from the business and administration running of the club. This move has never worked in other clubs and will not end well within ours. I urge you as a supporter to please revert control back to the first team management and cease interfering in team matters, this is a role solely responsible for the Team Management to address.
Vinny Perth:
In recent days we have seen the sacking of our previous Team coach, Vinny Perth.
Vinny is a fan favorite, a previous assistant to Stephen Kenny, a previous player and a servant to our club for almost 8 years, a man who gave everything to make this club successful.
He also ended up being a scapegoat for the interference of Mr Hulsizer in the teams affairs, sending a message to all players and staff that “what i say goes”. This is not how you treat people and certainty not someone who delivered a League Title, League Cup and Unite the Union Cup in his first competitive season as First Team Manager.
Vinny deserves more from this club, he deserves move from the Board.
You should be ashamed.
The American Influence:
We have seen an influx of players into our club during the off season, particularly those from the United States of America, players who have been associated to the same colleges that the owners of Peak 6 attended.
Some of these players are not to the standard we have set as a club.
Questions have been asked amoung supporters about the logic behind signing these players, but until recently it has come out in the media that the Owners, particularly Mr Hulsizer, has signed these players without the knowledge of the first team coach or team management.
This would completely undermine the role of all team management and staff, while also undermining the position of the players within the first team.
This move is highly concerning.
Team Selection:
As we all know recent performances have not been up to the standards we have set as a club, and the players have acknowledged this in their media interviews. Their performances have not been lacking effort and mistakes have been made on the pitch, but these are the result of the interference of the Board into team matters.
The confidence of the players and staff looks to be affected.
During recent games i have noticed some of our players being played in their wrong positions, for example, John Mountney as Left back against Sligo in the second half, Michael Duffy played as a central midfielder in the same game in the same half, decisions that our Team Management would never normally invoke, which would suggest that there is indeed outside involvement in our Team Selection process.
I urge you to please resolve this, remove any external interference in our Team Selection process and put this back under the remit of our Team Management only.
New First Team Manager:
It has been widely reported in Local, National and also International media sources that Dundalk Football Club are set to announce the signing of our new first team manager, many media outlets have reported that Filippo Giovagnoli has been offered the position.
His managerial background leaves alot to be desired, he has none.
He is currently the Director of Coaching at MetoVal in New York and the Coach for the Summer Camps at AC Milan. He has no Pro License to allow him manage in our Premier Division, while we have FOUR coaches on our management team who each have pro licenses. The decision does not make any sense and has left alot of fans concerned about the future of our club.
I dont know much about his ability to manage, but when a new manager refers to his new appointment as a “Kamikaze Mission”, and asks his friends to “pray for him”, pardon me for not being filled with confidence about his appointment.
Communication:
There has been a complete lack of communication from the Owners, CEO and Board of Directors to the fans about the recent reports within our club.
I believe that the club needs to make a statement to the fans, or even better, address the fans directly via our Media platforms or via a Supporters Meeting, but given the current government restrictions in place the latter may not be possible.
The fans would like clarity, the fans who have supported this club through thick and thin, good times and very bad times, the fans who have stuck with this club and who have spent their hard earned money on Season Tickets, Patreon Memberships and Merchandise, these fans want answers. I would urge you to address them, before its too late.
Yours Sincerely .