DFC: Dundalk owner Brian Ainscough considering his future with the Lilywhites?
With the club in the grip of a tense relegation battle in the Premier Division, the last thing Dundalk need is upheaval off the pitch, however, news has emerged to suggest that owner Biran Ainscough is considering his future at Oriel Park.
Ainscough has been at the helm in Dundalk for just nine months, however, the Boston-based business guru is already believed to be seeking offers for the club.
In late November last year, Ainscough took control of Dundalk from Sean O’Connor, Alan Clarke and Anday Connolly in a move that had been largely greeted as a positive development.
However, things haven’t gone to plan since and despite being listed as a possible contender for continental qualification on betting sites before the start of the 2024 Premier Division season, Dundalk have failed miserably in their bid to live up to expectations.
The Lilywhites are already on their third permanent manager of the campaign, though relegation to the second tier remains a real possibility with the team struggling to find form.
Ainscough, who was born in Dublin, is thought to have become frustrated with how football in Ireland operates at Premier Division level. The recent postponement of Dundalk’s clash with St. Patrick’s Athletic, which was announced with just 46 hours’ notice, is thought to have been particularly irksome for Ainscough.
When quizzed about his plans by media outlet The Argus on Monday, Ainscough was understandably coy, but said he could offer a more substantial update “hopefully very soon”.
Dundalk have had four ownership groups over the last nine years but haven’t got their hands on a Premier Division title since 2019, suggesting that the constant churn in upper management is having an effect on developments on the pitch.
While a swift sale would be ideal, should Ainscough decide to part ways with Dundalk, the club’s current league position and possible relegation will muddy the waters considerably.
Any prospective purchaser is almost certain to wait until the end of the season to see whether they are buying a Premier Division or a First Division club, with price points for both likely to vary wildly.
In addition, the club are already in a financially precarious state and with cash needed for a new pitch and upgrades to other facilities, flogging Dundalk to a new owner might be a difficult sell. Dundalk are expected to post losses of over €1m when their next set of accounts are published.
The Lilywhites have eight games left to secure their top-flight status, though they have a massive eight-point deficit to claw back and it’s easy to see why they have been backed heavily to go down on sports betting apps.
Their date with local rivals Drogheda United on the final day of the season in November is already starting to loom large and a faceoff between the antagonists for survival would make for an explosive contest.
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