Graham Gartland: Strong structures needed amid Dundalk crisis

The situation at Dundalk has offered another stark reminder of the need for stronger structures to be put in place in the League of Ireland, according to former Drogheda United and Longford Town defender Graham Gartland.

Dundalk are experiencing financial difficulties, exacerbated by debts of more than €1 million, with owner Brian Ainscough admitting that the club's ability to finish out the season is an "immediate concern" as he seeks added investment into the club.

Players and staff were also not paid their wages last week, although Ainscough said that was "a temporary issue which will be resolved in the coming days".

To help allieviate the crisis, the Louth club's supporters have begun the process of trying to fundraise €100,000 in order to help pay salaries.

The situation faced by Dundalk is all the more startling considering the revenue gained during the 2016-17 and 2020-21 seasons when the Lilywhites reached the group stages of the Europa League, which came in the midst of a seven-year period between the 2014 and 2020 seasons which saw the club win five league titles and three FAI Cups.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport however, Gartland said some of the perceived benefits of on-field success had been "superficial" for Dundalk.

Alan Cawley and Graham Gartland speak on the crisis at Dundalk, a club who were in European group stage football recently, but are now in a position where players are going unpaid. #RTESoccer pic.twitter.com/8aMtYar62a

For example, they could not use their own home ground Oriel Park for high-profile European games as the facilities there have not been fit for purpose by UEFA standards, a situation that the majority of LOI clubs experience and thereby curtailing avenues for revenue.

"A lot of the success that