They say a week is a long time in football, two weeks an eternity. The League of Ireland had two seasons worth of news stories crammed into two weeks recently.
Some very worthy news stories didn't get the attention they deserved due to the managerial changes which culminated in Dundalk FC appointing Jon Daly as their new manager.
If you told me this day four weeks ago after St Pats beat Drogheda 1-0 in Richmond Park, that tonight, Jon Daly would already be one week into being the Dundalk manager - well, you would have given me any odds I asked.
As Ireland’s very own super fan, John Dodge once rightly phrased it – It’s the Greatest League in the World.
The decision to bring in Daly highlights Dundalk's urgent need for improvement and effective leadership amid a turbulent period. This appointment is particularly unexpected given the club’s recent turmoil.
Only a short time ago, Dundalk was embroiled in controversy following the brief and heavily criticised appointment of Noel King. King’s appointment was widely seen as unconventional and indicative of deeper issues within the club’s operations.
A bad start to the season along with a series of off-field missteps has left Dundalk languishing at the bottom of the league table, seven points off eighth place, three points off Drogheda who sit in ninth.
The reason I consider this appointment particularly unexpected is because I believe it is an excellent decision by the club. Brian Ainscough had to get this appointment right as it’s crucial to implement the necessary changes needed to keep the club in the Premier Division.
Dundalk’s precarious position requires immediate and impactful changes, especially as they approach the crucial July transfer window. I have previously written about
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Eoin Doyle
Jon Daly