Lilywhites in crisis: 'They can't come back as Dundalk 2.0'

The future of Dundalk FC remains in serious doubt despite the club receiving more time to find new owners and stave off the threat of liquidation.

There were very real concerns the Lilywhites would fold by 5pm on Monday evening unless a takeover could be agreed.

Current owner Brian Ainscough eased supporters' worst fears when he insisted that would not be case, and it's understood he is in talks with at least two interested parties.

However things remain on a knife edge, and the stakes are enormous.

With debts of over €1m, any deal is likely to involve the club entering the Small Company Administrative Rescue Process (SCARP), a 45-day salvage scheme established in 2021 for insolvent companies, similar to examinership. This would lead to debts being restructured and relegation to the First Division.

It'd be a bitter pill to swallow, but at least Dundalk would survive.

"Dundalk can't just go to the wall and come back as Dundalk 2.0," said former St Pat's, Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians goalkeeper Barry Murphy on this week's RTÉ Soccer Podcast.

"Those days are gone. They can't apply for a license for next year, the licences (application process) for next year is under way and the current entity (of Dundalk) is who has applied for that license. Dundalk have applied for that so they can't go back.

"As terrible as Kilkenny, Monaghan and some of the other clubs going out of the league is, this club is an institution. It's people's jobs, the heartbeat of a town. It has to be saved."

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