I (Brendan Ogle – Chairman) just had a long call with Bill Hulsizer:
Q – ‘is the club for sale?’
A – ‘everything is for sale on the right terms. But that does not mean we are selling, and if we do sell it will be on terms, and to people, who can do a better job for Dundalk Football Club than we can’
The call was to be introductory. I was determined to take the man as I met him. I found him forthright, friendly, wanting the best for Dundalk FC, fair to others, and self critical. I enjoyed the call. Some others things that were discussed:
– He believes we should be aiming for Cat 4 stadium, not Cat 3.
– Completely welcoming of the Supporters Club and I constantly made the point that whoever owns Dundalk, now are in the future, a strong Supporters Club should exist anyway. It should always have existed
– Thinks the next 3 games are ‘massive’ with Harps one the most massive
– Never picked team, or tried to, but used to give opinions which he realised were being interpreted as him trying to pick team. So he stopped giving opinions
He is clever. He understands that there can be cliques or ‘clans’ capable of holding us back. He doesn’t trust the FAI or believe that they have Dundalk’s best interests at heart. He is ferociously ambitious and frustrated. He admitted to making mistakes.
He has three cares in this order:
1 – Dundalk FC
2 – Those fans who wear the shirts and scarves of Dundalk FC
3 – The best for the LOI, which he says he cares less about as time goes on and that FAI should get out of it other than administration
He pointed out that the team that finished last in the Danish league gets more prize money than the team that wins our league.
I made the point that the Supporters Club needs to exist and be strong whoever the owner is. Complete agreement and support on that. I felt it was a positive meeting and I have met many people in the past from Taoisaigh, Ministers, CEO’s etc. It is what it is. He is who he is. Some might criticise me even for talking to him. I see that as our role. And it was a good talk.
We have to build this club people. Lee McConville has addressed the glitches now so please join and get others to do so. It’s up to us. We are the permanent feature here. Let’s build with that in mind?