DUNDALK HAVE TODAY taken a major step on the road to upgrading their home ground and its pitch.
In a statement released this afternoon, the Louth club announced that it has taken full ownership of the lease for Oriel Park and the Youth Development Centre building.
Since Paul Browne and Andy Connolly took control in August 2012, the Lilywhites — Airtricity League Premier Division champions for the past three years — have been involved in a drawn-out legal battle with former owner Gerry Matthews.
Without the lease, the current administration were unable to apply for grants for much-needed redevelopment of the stadium and the replacement of the current artificial pitch with a top class grass surface.
However, with Dundalk earning €7 million from their European exploits this year, its purchase has been agreed and they have also paid a settlement to Louth County Council over money owed by Matthews for outstanding planning levy charges.
This will pave the way for the club to make improvements at Oriel and install a new pitch, which they plan to have laid by the beginning of next season.
While the statement thanks the FAI and former Uefa vice-president Des Casey (who handles the lease on behalf of his family), it is highly-critical of Matthews — claiming he leaked the story last week before going on to slam his behaviour over the years.
Read the statement in full below:
Dundalk Football Club are delighted to confirm that we have concluded the process to resolve all of the long-standing legal problems surrounding the lease of Oriel Park. As a result of this process, Dundalk Football Club have taken full ownership of the lease of Oriel Park and the YDC building.
Since the takeover of the club from Gerry Matthews in August 2012, Dundalk FC have achieved unprecedented levels of success on the pitch. This has been achieved despite the backdrop of a very serious legal dispute that was inherited by the current administration at Dundalk FC.
The new administration fully expected the transfer of the lease of Oriel Park into our name following the takeover. This was not forthcoming from the previous owner. Without ownership of the lease, Dundalk FC were unable to make any improvements to Oriel Park. This includes any upgrade of the pitch. Therefore, a resolution of this issue was vital to both the short and long term future of the club.
Having reached a settlement to purchase the lease and YDC, the club agreed to a statement with Mr Matthews to be released on Monday 21st November. Inevitably, Mr Matthews leaked that agreement last week and, disgracefully in our view, this was shared on social media by a local media representative.
In this planned statement, we stated that the agreement with Mr Matthews was based on “genuine goodwill”. While we wished to put a positive note on this agreement, given Mr Matthews behaviour over the years repeatedly making inaccurate statements in the press, interfering with the licensing process, wrongly claiming that money was owed to him and, even last week, attempting to portray this agreement as the settlement of a debt to him – we are compelled to state that, unfortunately, there was absolutely no goodwill between Dundalk Football Club and Mr Matthews at the conclusion of this process.
The club have also made a full settlement with Louth County Council for the money that Mr Matthews owed to them for outstanding planning levy charges.
The club are very grateful for the support of Des Casey and his family during this process. This has been a very traumatic and stressful time for the Casey family over the past ten years and we appreciate their support during this dispute. Dundalk FC have recognised Des’ and his families contribution to the club over the past 80 years by naming him as our new Honorary President.
We would also like to thank John Delaney and the FAI for their support. The FAI worked closely with Louth County Council and found a solution to the problems relating to the planning levies that Mr Matthews owed. Following legal advice, we decided to resolve this situation ourselves without any outside assistance. However, it must be pointed out that the FAI did take an active interest in this situation and provided a lot of support and advice in order to find a resolution.
Dundalk FC have already been visited by pitch specialists in order to move forward with a new playing surface that we hope will be in place for the start of the 2017 season. We are also undertaking a feasibility study on how we can make best use of the YDC building for the good of our club and community. Everybody at the club is looking forward to the future as we attempt to build on the incredible progress we have made over the past four years.
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He’s been a huge plus for the Farrell team as he’s just bossed what was starting to become a problem position for Ireland.
Takes care of the basics first, and he’s starting to reveal more to his game now week on week at every level, influencing huge games.
I think the lad has a massive ceiling.
@Patrick Doherty: and a brilliant mix of writing and analysis as always from Murray Kinsella.
I completely agree the way he played last week against Munster was top class. Looked dangerous every time he had the ball in hand. Rock solid under the high ball and looking to attack at every opportunity
Where I have the difficulty with his play is over the five games for Ireland he offered absolutely nothing whatsoever in attack. Even when we were dominant against the English. He looked easy to read with ball in hand.
Before I get lambasted and abused here I believe it must be the different coaching structures between Ireland and Leinster
@Bgkph: he’s 24 and learning every week.
This is the role leinster wanted for carbury so it’s no surprise they are working with Keenan to do the same. Ireland don’t seem to want their 15 to play make so your not going to see this too much for Ireland
@Bgkph: it’s a much much higher level than any PR014 or HC games. It’s what Ronan O Gara keeps saying. Such a chasm between the levels
He’s a good solid player who has already improved hugely since he got his first cap. I’m not sure if he has as much X factor in attack that larmour and stockdale have. The experiment with them at full back failed though and IMO a safe pair of hands which he has , is the most important thing a full back should have…. hopefully the attacking threat can be worked on and will continue to improve…
This guy is a massive credit to the 7s system. He’s so solid, does all the basics so well and rarely makes a mistake. He’s going to get better and better.
He needs to work on his passing and decision making. He is already an improvement on Kearney but like Kearney he takes the ball into contact. Also he needs to fix his man before passing as it cost Lowe a try against France
@Patrick O Connell: the videos show him passing or offloading each time and continuing the movement. Doesn’t really correlate to your point about him going into contact
@Patrick O Connell: every time he takes it into contact he seems to make yards. Fella wriggles out of every tackle