The situation at Dundalk has offered another stark reminder of the need for stronger structures to be put in place in the League of Ireland, according to former Drogheda United and Longford Town defender Graham Gartland.
Dundalk are experiencing financial difficulties, exacerbated by debts of more than €1 million, with owner Brian Ainscough admitting that the club's ability to finish out the season is an "immediate concern" as he seeks added investment into the club.
Players and staff were also not paid their wages last week, although Ainscough said that was "a temporary issue which will be resolved in the coming days".
To help allieviate the crisis, the Louth club's supporters have begun the process of trying to fundraise €100,000 in order to help pay salaries.
The situation faced by Dundalk is all the more startling considering the revenue gained during the 2016-17 and 2020-21 seasons when the Lilywhites reached the group stages of the Europa League, which came in the midst of a seven-year period between the 2014 and 2020 seasons which saw the club win five league titles and three FAI Cups.
Alan Cawley and Graham Gartland speak on the crisis at Dundalk, a club who were in European group stage football recently, but are now in a position where players are going unpaid. #RTESoccer pic.twitter.com/8aMtYar62a
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 10, 2024
For example, they could not use their own home ground Oriel Park for high-profile European games as the facilities there have not been fit for purpose by UEFA standards, a situation that the majority of LOI clubs experience and thereby curtailing avenues for revenue.
"A lot of the success that you see is on the outside where underneath is where we really need to get it," said Gartland.
"We need to put in strong structures so that this stuff doesn't happen."
Gartland pointed to the need for improved facilities and stadia as well as academies that can be a revenue source through player sales in order for clubs not to be at the "behest" of owners and benefactors.
"(They are) a revenue source. There's no revenue sources other than the fans coming in the door," he said, before outlining a concern when it comes to the increasing spend on salaries amid longer-term contracts.
"I always felt this season with the wages that were being put out - and I'm not begrudging any player any wages, I never have, that's their entitlement to get it - but it's starting to creep back into the old days where you thought there's a worry here if this doesn't work."
Former Dundalk and Shelbourne midfielder Alan Cawley echoed Gartland's point, adding that certain facilities were sub-standard to the extent that they cannot cater for the growing demand for attendances, curtailing potential extra revenue sources.
He also expressed sympathy with the players and staff caught up in the uncertainty at Dundalk.
"They're the ones I feel sorry for because when you're not getting paid wages in the door and you're doing an honest day's work, that's when problems start to arise massively," said Cawley.
"Staff as well at the club. But they've been down this road before and have lessons been learned? That's the question you would ask all across the board.
"Have lessons been learned? We've been here before. It shouldn't be happening in the times that we're living in now I don't think but unfortunately it is."
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