Season Preview: Dundalk
Credit:
Expectations are high in County Louth this season as fresh faces bring a new step to the Dundalk squad and the prospect of possible European football is an unexpected bonus.
It was all change during the summer as the managers of Galway United and Dundalk swapped offices, in a move that a Channel 4 production team would have been proud of.
Into the Oriel Park hot seat came Ian Foster and his newly appointed assistant manager Wayne Hatswell. The English pairing quickly set about creating a squad on a playing budget that was reduced from the previous season and it took time to get their men.
However, their persistence paid off and up some exciting new players have signed on the dotted line and were joined by six players from last year's squad that agreed terms to stick around.
Last season The Lilywhites got more red cards than Chairman Mao on his birthday, but Foster has promised to clamp down on this. Whilst not wishing to rein in the competitive spirits of players he has gone on record to say that players who do not show a professional attitude will feel the full weight of the club's disciplinary code.
Foster and Hatswell have been astute in their signings and have built a squad that is both eye-catching and balanced in terms of both ability and experience. Of course, Oriel Park is blessed with a synthetic pitch and one would imagine that the surface will suit some of the classy players in his squad such as Neale Fenn, Fahrudin Kudozovic and Alan Cawley.
Last season was a fairly mixed bag with positive results almost as likely to come on the road as they were at home. Dundalk will be aiming to be aiming to be more consistent and push for European qualification this season.
An unbeaten pre-season campaign has seen spirits rise and confidence is high in the border town. So far they have looked solid defensively but with enough attacking menace to provide openings for the strikers. Now that Ian Foster and his staff know who their opening opposition will be they can plan more effectively and look forward to the season.
Team: Dundalk FC
Manager: Ian Foster
Players In: Matt Gregg (Bohemians), Garry Breen (Galway United), Wayne Hatswell (Cambridge United), Stephen Maher, Alan Cawley (both St Patrick's Athletic), JJ Meligan (Leyton Orient), Tom Miller (Glasgow Rangers), Neale Fenn (Bohemians), Ross Gaynor (Sporting Fingal), Fahrudin Kudozovic (Cork City), Sam Malsom (B36 Torshavn).
Players Out: Chris Bennion (Athlone Town), Kevin McKinlay (Greenock Morton), Michael Collins (Crusaders), Thomas Heary, James Creaney (both Galway United), Chris Turner (Shamrock Rovers), Paul McAreavey (Donegal Celtic), Michael Daly (Drogheda United), Darren Mansaram (Gainsborough Trinity), Alex Williams (St Patrick's Athletic), Declan O'Brien (Valletta), Ger Rowe, Simon Kelly, Michael McGowan, Michael McGinley, Michael Coburn (All Released)
One to Watch: Ross Gaynor
Prediction: 4th
It was all change during the summer as the managers of Galway United and Dundalk swapped offices, in a move that a Channel 4 production team would have been proud of.
Into the Oriel Park hot seat came Ian Foster and his newly appointed assistant manager Wayne Hatswell. The English pairing quickly set about creating a squad on a playing budget that was reduced from the previous season and it took time to get their men.
However, their persistence paid off and up some exciting new players have signed on the dotted line and were joined by six players from last year's squad that agreed terms to stick around.
Last season The Lilywhites got more red cards than Chairman Mao on his birthday, but Foster has promised to clamp down on this. Whilst not wishing to rein in the competitive spirits of players he has gone on record to say that players who do not show a professional attitude will feel the full weight of the club's disciplinary code.
Foster and Hatswell have been astute in their signings and have built a squad that is both eye-catching and balanced in terms of both ability and experience. Of course, Oriel Park is blessed with a synthetic pitch and one would imagine that the surface will suit some of the classy players in his squad such as Neale Fenn, Fahrudin Kudozovic and Alan Cawley.
Last season was a fairly mixed bag with positive results almost as likely to come on the road as they were at home. Dundalk will be aiming to be aiming to be more consistent and push for European qualification this season.
An unbeaten pre-season campaign has seen spirits rise and confidence is high in the border town. So far they have looked solid defensively but with enough attacking menace to provide openings for the strikers. Now that Ian Foster and his staff know who their opening opposition will be they can plan more effectively and look forward to the season.
Team: Dundalk FC
Manager: Ian Foster
Players In: Matt Gregg (Bohemians), Garry Breen (Galway United), Wayne Hatswell (Cambridge United), Stephen Maher, Alan Cawley (both St Patrick's Athletic), JJ Meligan (Leyton Orient), Tom Miller (Glasgow Rangers), Neale Fenn (Bohemians), Ross Gaynor (Sporting Fingal), Fahrudin Kudozovic (Cork City), Sam Malsom (B36 Torshavn).
Players Out: Chris Bennion (Athlone Town), Kevin McKinlay (Greenock Morton), Michael Collins (Crusaders), Thomas Heary, James Creaney (both Galway United), Chris Turner (Shamrock Rovers), Paul McAreavey (Donegal Celtic), Michael Daly (Drogheda United), Darren Mansaram (Gainsborough Trinity), Alex Williams (St Patrick's Athletic), Declan O'Brien (Valletta), Ger Rowe, Simon Kelly, Michael McGowan, Michael McGinley, Michael Coburn (All Released)
One to Watch: Ross Gaynor
Prediction: 4th
