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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Mark McCadden

Dundalk reveal takeover/investment talks with three parties in lengthy 'open letter' to fans

Dundalk are in talks with three different groups regarding a potential takeover or investment.

The Lilywhites revealed on Friday that - despite reports and comments coming from Hull City in recent days - the League of Ireland side were still exploring their options.

In an open letter to fans, released in an attempt to diffuse concerns around the Hull situation, the club wrote: “Despite the reports stating otherwise, we remain in talks with three different groups.

“These discussions include all scenarios of investment, shareholding, and ownership.”

The lengthy statement came on the back of comments from Hull boss Liam Rosenior, whose interview on Thursday caused alarm among fans of the Oriel Park side.

"It's a massive talent pool (in Ireland),” said Rosenior.

“You look at the GB rules now in terms of recruitment and what you need to do to get players in, and what's really important to us is that we've found a club in Dundalk, that have similar values and footballing identity.

“There's no point us playing in a certain way and Dundalk not playing in that way. Everything is aligned, there's a lot of thought and planning that's gone into that.”

On Friday lunchtime, Dundalk wrote that “given the concerns being expressed by Dundalk fans… we feel that we must make direct contact with you all today to explain our thoughts.

“Firstly, we understand completely that many supporters are concerned about the reports from the UK.

“The recent history of takeovers at Dundalk FC was quite traumatic for all of us.

“Without any context or information regarding how a potential partnership with another club could work, it is, of course, inevitable that many supporters will be anxious about any further ownership changes.”

The letter cited objectives such as achieving success on the pitch and improving facilities at Oriel Park.

“This is why we have been open about the possibility of further investment in the club,” it continued.

“In the past 15 months, we have been approached by 10 serious individuals or groups who wanted to explore the possibility of investing in the club.

“We have always maintained that the future development of Dundalk Football Club is much more important than our personal ownership of the club.

“It would be very narrow minded of us, as an ownership group, not to explore any opportunity to help improve the support we can give our manager and to begin the process of making ground improvements.

“Despite the reports stating otherwise, we remain in talks with three different groups. These discussions include all scenarios of investment, shareholding, and ownership.

“Absolutely nothing has been agreed or finalised.

“An agreement may be reached within days, it may take several more weeks or months, or may not happen at all. This is a very unpredictable business.

“While we are keen to make an agreement that will benefit the club, it will need to be something that genuinely makes us excited in order for us to complete any deal.

“Community development, helping us compete on the pitch, and facility improvements are at the cornerstone of all of our discussions.”

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