Keegan admits ‘solutions’ needed in Dundalk

DUNDALK’S under-fire management team remains in place after a weekend of high-level talks at Oriel Park.

But after a dismal return of just one point from four games, Shane Keegan admits that the staff are struggling to figure out what’s gone wrong for the FAI Cup holders, with concern expressed by the team manager that the season could run away from Dundalk unless there is an immediate upturn in form.

Friday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Bohemians leave the Lilywhites second from bottom, a point-less Derry City the only side worse off, with intense focus on their next test, at home to league leaders St Patrick’s Athletic on Saturday.

The Dundalk staff held a debrief on Saturday with players called in for an extra day’s training yesterday, followed by another meeting between coach Filippo Giovagnoli and sporting director Jim Magilton.

The coaching staff will be in charge, for another week, at least, but decisions being made are under intense scrutiny. Han Jeong-uh started, surprisingly, in a central midfield role against Bohs, but the ineffective Korean was replaced at half-time, Keegan admitting “he’s only coming to terms with the pace of things and it’s fair to say it didn’t work for us”.

Keegan added: “There isn’t a magic wand. At the moment, everybody is trying to come up with solutions. We need to fix it, collectively we need to put our finger on the pulse as to what exactly is going wrong here and just get it right next Saturday night. It absolutely has to come ASAP because you look at Shamrock Rovers, you just can’t let them get too far ahead.”