Dundalk boss Jon Daly reveals that club have failed to pay players and staff

Dundalk manager Jon Daly admitted he was in the dark about the club's future after confirming that players and staff had not been paid this week.

Reports emerged on Tuesday that owner Brian Ainscough was considering his future at Oriel Park just over nine months after acquiring the Louth outfit from Seán O’Connor, Alan Clarke and Andy Connolly.

While talks are understood to have taken place with a number of parties in recent days about a potential handover, any hopes of a deal happening will not be helped by the club’s current outstanding debt, which is said to be well in excess of €1m.

With Dundalk currently languishing at the foot of the League of Ireland Premier Division table, the uncertainty over the ownership has raised concerns locally about the club’s ability to see out the rest of the season.

Those fears were heightened on the eve of their clash with St Patrick’s Athletic on Thursday when players and staff weren’t paid.

While Daly, who only took charge of the Lilywhites at the end of May, said he is hopeful that the situation will be resolved soon, he said it was very much a wait-and-see approach from those on the ground at Oriel Park.

"I think in any line of work, it's the least you expect when you do your job - to get paid"

"We were told it would be late but you’ll believe it when you see it," he said in relation to the unpaid wages.

"It’s one of those that you just have to take people’s word on what they tell you. Fingers crossed, all going well, it happens and then the boys can do what they need to do.

"I think in any line of work, it’s the least you expect when you do your job - to get paid. It’s obviously very difficult but hopefully in the next couple of days that gets sorted."

With the club’s players set to meet