Deep breath…….Inhale…….Exhale……Ok lets do this again………
Trying to muster the energy to write ANOTHER blog about Dundalk FC is becoming increasingly difficult, I mean, week on week, bar the few weeks we went on an unbeaten run , we seem to be back in the doldrums.
Over the last few weeks that saw us beat Finn Harps, Sligo Rovers, Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers, we drew against Finn Harps and Bohemians away, it all looked rosey in the Peak6 garden, everything looked like we might just be ok this season, then the FAI Cup Semi Final in Inchicore happened and we showed signs of the troubled Dundalk FC team from earlier in the season.
The good times were gone…..again, but this time it seemed like an end of an era.
As we stood waiting to leave Richmond Park we knew that during the long drive home from Inchicore meant that we had time to discuss and dismatle what just happened, we wont have our annual trip to the Aviva, thats was no more….for now, but standing in Richmond Park after the game and hearing the Pats team and supporters celebrate their deserved victory, the mood turned in the waiting Dundalk supporters from defeat and dismay to anger towards Peak6 and ‘why could they allow this to happen?‘.
We knew this day would come eventually, especially given the shit-show off the field for the last 18 months, but as we stood there waiting for the gates to open in Richmond Park, I could hear the conversation turn from the performance on the field to that of our owners off the field.
Over the weekend that conversation continued, but on Sunday evening things got considerably worse, signs that things off the field were still not right, we learned that three of our medical staff had decided to depart Oriel Park with immediate effect, with five games remaining in the season this departure caused alarm bells to ring among the fans.
Social media lit up like a christmas tree, the comments flooded in, this was really bad, the timing couldnt have been worse, 24 hours before a crucial game against Pats, clearly something within the ranks of the club caused these backroom staff to decide that their positions were no longer tenable and they were unable to carry out their duties, something happened to force them to decide that nine weeks before Christmas time, five weeks before the end of the season and twenty-four hours before a critical league game, this was the right time to depart.
Clearly, something was still “rotten in the state of denmark“.
In December 2020, Jim Magilton was hired as Sporting Director of Dundalk Football Club, a role that Vinny Perth requested be created before his initial “departure” from the club in August 2020.
Jim Magilton was brought in to take control of football operations of the club and to oversee player recruitment, contract negogitations and team development.
Over the last nine months under the stewardship of Jim Magilton we have seen:
11 Players leave Dundalk FC,
The departure of the club captain, Chris Shields, to Linfield FC in July 2021,
The pre-contract announcement of Patrick Mc Eleney and Michael Duffy to Derry City for the 2022 Season,
The entire first team, except Andy Boyle and Ryan O’ Kane, all out of contract by the end of the season, with the entire first team allowed to open contract negogitations with other teams for the 2022 season,
The first team manager, Vinny Perth, with no contract agreement for the 2022 season,
One full time physio on the backroom staff for the 2022 season,
No team doctor for the 2022 season, a criteria that is required to obtain a license for the 2022 season.
and lastly, No Strength and conditioning coach.
Given the incompetence of Peak6 and the vanishing act of our Sporting Director upto this point, I would have a real concern that they wont be in the position to obtain a League of Ireland license for the 2022 season if we remain in the Premier Division, that is how inept and incompetent I believe these people are and my judgement is based on their current track record.
Lets take a quick look at the personnel that is required for obtaining a League license for next season:
Club Licensing Officer. – Required.
General Manager. – Required.
Club Secretary. – Required.
Finance Officer. – Required.
Media Officer. – Required.
Club Marketing Officer. – Not Required but advised.
Groundsman. – Not Required but advised.
Infrastructure Co-Ordinator. – Required.
Supporter Liaison Officer. – Required for a Premier Division License.
Disability Access Officer. – Not Required but advised.
First Team Manager. – Required.
Assistant Manager. – Required.
Goalkeeping Coach. – Required for a Premier Division License.
Head of Youth Development. – Required.
Medial Doctor. – Required.
Physiotherapist. – Required.
Club Childrens Doctor – Required.
Protection of Children – Club Desingnated Person – Required.
Ground Safety Management – Required.
Event Controller – Required.
Security Officer – Required.
Match Stewards – Required.
First Aid, Ambulance Staff – Required.
Failure to have the above personnel in place will mean the refusal of a license for the 2022 Premier Division Season.
But getting back to the appointment of Jim Magilton, given the above points that have occurred under his stewardship and given the concerns about getting a license for the 2022 season.
Where is our Sporting Director?
What is his role within our club?
Why are we letting the core of our team leave to our rivals on pre-contract agreements?
Why is the core of our first team still not tied down on multi-year contracts for the coming seasons?
Why is our first team manager not tied down with a contract for the 2022 season?
Are we confident that Dundalk FC will be granted a license for the 2022 season?
Since the appointment of Vinny Perth in June 2021, and with no official communication from the club on that matter to date, Jim Magilton has vanished from public view apart from the occasional apperance at a local cosmetic company or car dealership for a photo opportunity. Given his initially remit was all sporting aspects of the club we have not heard anything from him in about six months, the fans have not heard anything from him during that time frame.
Its getting very quiet in Oriel Park this year, with no communication from our absentee owners and little or no communication from our sporting director, its getting very lonely being a supporter of Dundalk FC this season, all we want to do is talk and going by the amount of Podcasts and Blogs that have popped up this season we definately like talking about our great club.
So, to finish up, I would like to reach out to our owners, Matt Hulsizer, the board members, I’d even like to reach out to Jim Magilton, I have asked for open communication between the supporters and the club, give us some answers, shed some light on where we all stand.
The 1903 Supporters Club have reached out, they issued a letter for open dialogue with our owners and the board of directors and they are still waiting on an official response.
To qoute Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men, “You want the truth? , You can’t handle the truth!!“
But maybe now it’s exactly what we want to hear.
End.