Dundalk appoint Brian Gartland as head of football operations

Dundalk have appointed former club captain Brian Gartland as their head of football operations.

The five-time SSE Airtricity League-winning defender, who also won three FAI Cups in a career that had previously seen him represent Bray Wanderers, Shelbourne and Monaghan United, announced his retirement last December at the age of 36.

His first non-playing role for Dundalk will see him working closely with the Lilywhites' head coach Stephen O'Donnell, as well as the club's owners in areas ranging from recruitment and the academy, to scouting and player welfare.

"I'm absolutely delighted to extend my stay at the club in a role that I’m really excited about," Gartland told Dundalk's club website.

"The current focus now is to work with Stephen to bring in new additions and create an environment for the first-team to be successful."

O'Donnell welcomed Gartland's integration into the set-up at the Louth club who finished third last season in the Premier Division, level on points with second-placed Derry City in the head coach's first year in charge.

"It's very important to keep someone like Brian, who enjoyed so much success here as a player, as part of the fabric of the club," he said.

"It’s a very exciting opportunity for him and he has really taken to it. There is an awful lot to the technical side of the game now in terms of contract negotiations, dealing with agents and creating an environment for players to maximise their potential and Brian’s skillset will really help us in those areas."

Dundalk will begin their 2023 Premier Division campaign against UCD on 17 February.