Dundalk deserve period of calm and semblance of order

Dundalk FC, a club steeped in history and up to recent times, a powerhouse in Irish football, found itself in a precarious situation this week.

What began with promise and optimism has unravelled into chaos, leaving the club in financial difficulty and fighting for its future.

When Brian Ainscough first arrived at Dundalk, he spoke of long-term investment and ambition, but his ownership of the club has lasted less than 10 months.

Sacking Stephen O'Donnell early on and cycling through five managers was worrying for supporters looking for progress on the pitch and they find themselves bottom of a league they dominated year-in-year-out half a decade ago.

The failure to pay wages last week hinted at deeper problems off the pitch and Ainscough himself subsequently admitted the club needed fresh investment to see out the season.

This left the club reeling, with loyal fans and staff having to suffer the ramifications until John Temple and his consortium came in to save the club from entering administration.

The reality is that football clubs, especially in a league like Ireland's, are businesses that often require considerable investment before any return - however modest - can be realised.

Dundalk, of late, has not been treated as the community institution that it is.

While many have pointed fingers at the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) for failing to protect clubs like Dundalk, it's crucial to remember that the FAI is not responsible for the daily operations of a football club.

Football clubs are private enterprises, and while the FAI has a responsibility to oversee licensing, they cannot be held accountable for the day-to-day operations of individual clubs.

Licensing ensures that clubs are run under a basic financial and