Dundalk seek coach with League of Ireland experience
DESPITE having received around 70 applications from far and wide for the vacant manager’s position, Dundalk FC are set to prioritise the appointment of a coach with League of Ireland experience.
Just over a week on from Stephen O’Donnell’s dismissal, there has been huge interest in the role despite the club’s position at the foot of the Premier Division table, without a win in 10 matches.
While there has been interest from candidates “with international, European and UEFA group stage experience”, The Argus understands that club owner Brian Ainscough is set to prioritise the appointment of someone who knows the league here.
While lofty targets such as former boss Stephen Kenny and Ian Baraclough – currently number two at Cheltenham Town in England’s Football League, whose season ends on April 27 – have been mentioned, the club’s Head of Football Operations Brian Gartland told the media following the side’s defeat to Bohemians on Monday night that it was important the club took their time to make the right appointment and said he expected to remain in temporary charge alongside Liam Burns for this Friday’s trip to face Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds.
“At the moment, there’s no real update on it,” he said when asked about the vacancy.
“There’s a lot of candidates. The club wanted to leave it for the week to get in as many applications from people who are interested and sounded out and then see where to go from there.”
Gartland said he and new CEO Peter Halpin had received plenty of phone calls about the role.
“A lot of people are contacting the two of us in terms of wanting to put their hat in the ring and sending on CVs via email.
“There’s a few of us who will have the conversation. There’s a profile put together of what we need. Points is the main thing.
“There is strong interest despite the challenge. There’s even a few from Europe who I wouldn’t be familiar with but they’ve very good CVs with international and European experience and UEFA group stage experience.
“Then there’s the UK obviously and at home but it’s important that the club gets it right and not just go quick just to get anyone.”
Having paid tribute to the work of O’Donnell and his assistant Patrick Cregg on Friday, Gartland said the new boss would have to instil “fight” in a squad where confidence was an issue.
“As I said last week, Stephen and Patrick were brilliant on the game and they’ve shown in their short spell that they can be successful.
“Then sometimes something just might not work like it has worked for the last couple of seasons. You see that with managers every year from different teams.
“To be honest we need someone that is going to bring fight and get the fight and commitment out of the players. It needs to be someone who we think has a chance of getting us up the table.
“We’ve also got to think of the profile of players that we have. The character has to be able to work with that profile of players but ultimately the biggest thing is that they come and get points on the board,” he said.