Oriel Park, home of Dundalk FC. Picture: Ben McShane / SPORTSFILE
Dundalk players have agreed to defer this week’s wages after new owner John Temple informed them that he needed more time to sort out financial arrangements.
But Temple offered firm assurances to the squad that they would be paid in full up to the end of November 30.
The local barrister assumed control of the club from Brian Ainscough on Tuesday following a swift process – and there remains a lack of clarity around the structure backing up his deal.
Temple met with the players before training this morning and said that he wasn’t in a position to pay their wages for this week, with the delay attributed to the timing of his takeover.
He suggested there would be no issues from next week onwards.
Players accepted his explanation, acknowledging that the commitment to honour contracts is better than the scenarios that were on the table at the beginning of the week when liquidation was a live option.
Indeed, Jon Daly’s squad had been open to the idea of deferring this week’s wages to buy time with Ainscough given that urgency had been created by his Monday deadline for securing investment.
He ended up doing a deal with Temple who asserted that costs would be covered for the remainder of the season.
Dundalk’s first team wage bill is €20,000 per week. It’s understood that admin staff at the club have been paid.
Temple met with former Dundalk player Donal Greene yesterday, the Slovakian based entrepreneur who thought he had a deal done to take over from Ainscough before being usurped by the rival option.
There remains a strong possibility they will end up working together, while Temple is also believed to be receiving support from minority owners brought in under Ainscough.
Dundalk are battling to avoid relegation from the Premier Division, sitting bottom of the table with six games remaining, starting with Saturday’s trip to face Sligo Rovers.