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EDITORIAL


A SAD END TO A REMARKABLE JOURNEY

26th September 2002

At 10:30pm tonight, Martin Murray entered the Lilywhite Lounge in Oriel Park with Des Denning, Ollie Ralph and Tommy McConville. News had filtered through that just minutes earlier, after the 4-2 defeat to Athlone, Murray had announced his resignation as manager of Dundalk Football Club.

For those present, it was an almost surreal experience. Murray had one drink, and explained to any Dundalk fans nearby that he felt it was time to go. As he turned to leave the bar, the fans present started clapping, and eventually he left to a standing ovation. This wasn't just the end of a managerial career. This was the end of an association with Dundalk that goes back to his days as a player, where he was a member of the double winning side. Therefore, it's fitting that his exit from the club was so dignified, and so emotional for those present. After being the target for so much vitriol earlier in the evening, his poignant departure ironically offers a microcosm of the rollercoaster of emotions experienced by Dundalk fans during his time in charge.

It ended where it started, in the Lilywhite Lounge back in June of 2000. At a hastily arranged press conference, Murray was unveiled to a small gathering of press and supporters as the manager of Dundalk. Immediately, he impressed those present by announcing the signing of Martin Reilly. More players were on the way, and for Dundalk fans weary after a narrow and controversial failure to gain promotion with the Fran Carter scandal, the new era brought with it hope and optimism. Liam Dunne, Arron Callaghan, Ian Hill, Greg O'Dowd and Brian McKenna soon followed, and after spending heavily, Dundalk started the season as promotion favourites. After an opening draw with Limerick, Dundalk went on an excellent run, with the quality of football extremely high. In the early stages of the season, things were looking extremely well, and Murray's honeymoon period was a comfortable one for all. However, as the season continued, the jitters crept in.

After a rocky period, Donal Broughan, Tommy Byrne and Eoin Mullen were signed in mid October. The ship was steadied, and Dundalk clawed back the lead of Athlone, with Martin Reilly absolutely outstanding all season long. Yet, fears were expressed about the ability of manager, and indeed, the ability of the side after the calamitous 1-0 FAI Cup defeat to Portmarnock, arguably the worst in the history of the club, and a 5-2 loss at home to Sligo in United Park during the height of the foot and mouth crisis.

Murray was a nervous wreck before the game against Limerick, four games from the end of the season. In fact, some questioned if the manager was losing it, such was his nervous and bizarre mannerisms and behaviour before the game as he uncharacteristically came onto the field before kickoff, shouting messages at each player individually. Dundalk scraped a victory, and went on to defeat Athlone and take the First Division title. After the game, Des Denning raised Murray's arm up in the air, in front of a cheering main stand : the clear message being that the decision to appoint Murray as manager was vindicated.

The truth was, Murray had been told it was either promotion, or the sack, despite initial reports suggesting he had signed a three year deal as manager. The build up the 2001/2 season, and a return to the Premier Division again brought more hope in Oriel Park press conferences. The signings of Stephen McGuinness, James Keddy, Stuart Connolly, Johnathan Prizeman, Ciaran Kavanagh and the jinxed Mick O'Byrne were announced.

A series of pre season friendlies increased optimism, with a 4-1 thrashing of Glenavon displaying the ability which this Dundalk side undoubtedly possessed. However, the press conference unveiling the new players developed into a Q&A session with Murray, with many questioning decisions made during the previous season. In contrast with the often downbeat and motionless Murray on the sideline, he displayed a conviction in his opinions that we had never seen before. "I want people to come to Oriel next year, not just to see Dundalk win, but to enjoy themselves as well ... I'll defend my players....it bugged me when the players took stick ...you can criticise me, I can take all that sh*t" Confidence was high in the camp, and a reasonable start to the season including memorable wins over Bohemians and Derry allowed some Oriel Park fans to dream about top six finishes.

Even after a few defeats, Murray was confident everything would be ok at the club. "There's no way we will be in relegation trouble this season", he defiantly proclaimed. Nevertheless, as November approached, it was clear that the club was in serious bother. Financial problems forced the hand of Murray, who was told that some players just had to go, for costcutting purposes.

The decision to release David Ward to Newry on loan caused controversy, with the player left bemused considering that the manager, just one week earlier, had praised him openly at training for his first rate attitude and commitment.

The undoubtedly unstable relationship between Murray and midfielder Johnathan Prizeman also angered fans, with many questioning the man management skills of Murray, by his constant withdrawal of Prizeman from the pitch. During a game against Cork City, the substitution of Prizeman caused uproar, with programmes and anything else nearby fired onto the playing field in disgust to a loud chorus of boos. Subsequently, it was claimed that Murray had offered his resignation after the game, but Des Denning had persuaded him to change his mind. Eventually, with rumours of acrimony behind the scenes, Prizeman was dropped.

After the infamous 1-1 draw with Galway towards the end of the season, Murray, irked by the continuous questioning on the matter by local reporters called the player up from the back of the dressing room to tell reporters there was no problem between the two. The performance was less than convincing. After picking up appendicitis, and missing the last six weeks of the season, Prizeman missed the FAI Cup success. He would never play for the club again, and was released in the summer.

Fans favourite Ger Robinson was another player who enjoyed a tenuous relationship with Murray, clearly angered by his role as substitute. He was also released in January, to First Division Kilkenny City. The incidents with Prizeman, Ward and Robinson led many to question the ability of Murray to deal with his players. However, with the league table position looking extremely grim, Gary Haylock was signed, and Murray consistently told reporters that he knew his side would get out of trouble.

The FAI Cup run conflicted greatly with the stop start League campaign. A fine win away to Finn Harps set up a memorable Oriel Park night, with the 4-0 Cup semi final win over old enemy Shamrock Rovers. Players like Keddy, Kavanagh and McGuinness, who had toiled earlier in the season, suddenly found a new level of performance, and the form spilled over into the end of the League campaign. After a valiant effort to avoid relegation, after a late rally, Dundalk eventually lost out by a point.

In any other season, their 10th position would have resulted in a playoff, but the move to a ten team League meant Dundalk went down automatically - despite being eighteen points clear of 11th placed Galway United.

The despair of relegation was followed a week later by one of the greatest days in the history of the club, the Gary Haylock inspired 2-1 win over Bohemians. The scenes of celebration after the final whistle, and in the town that night were incredible, and Murray enjoyed it as much as anyone, proudly leading renditions of "get into them, they're easy" as the float carrying the team toured around town. Undoubtedly, he would have resigned if Dundalk had lost the final. Afterwards, he dumbfounded reporters by claiming that he didn't actually have a contract as manager, with his position as manager only a verbal arrangement.

The hangover after the Cup Final celebrations brought with it the harsh sobering reality of relegation, despite the FAI Cup win. Despite drunken protestations by all and sundry after the Cup that everyone would be staying to ensure the club got back to the top, Stephen McGuinness and James Keddy soon departed. Most shocking of all was the exit of captain David Crawley to Shelbourne, for financial reasons. A move which tellingly displayed the situation the club was in. With the purse strings tightened, Murray brought in only Robbie Brunton and Michael Dempsey, the latter signing confusing those who believed the club had a perfectly good keeper in John Connolly : why have two well paid goalkeepers when the club was losing players in other positions ?

The First Division Cup was regarded as a pointless exercise by Murray, whose side looked equally disinterested in the competition. However, after the 2-1 defeat at home to Finn Harps, the board released a bizarre statement on dundalkfc.com in which they confirmed they had instructed the manager to improve the playing squad. Europe was meant to be the prize for the Cup Final victory, but it only went to undermine Murray's position, with the 4-5-1 decision in Varazdin, and post match comments after the game where Murray claimed he would get "the Croatians pissed on Guinness" before the return leg leaving Croatian journalists stunned. Laughing after a 5-0 defeat was almost incomprehensible to them.

A good start to the First Division campaign was vital, but a home draw against Dublin City was hardly an ideal start. Another home draw against Cobh was preceded by a 2-1 win away to Limerick. After the Cobh match, and severe criticism of the team from the crowd, Murray expressed relief that the next game was away from home, as his players needed to get away from the Oriel Park crowd. Some felt the manager had a point, others believed he was merely ignoring the fact that the performance in Limerick was equally inept to the Oriel performances. A 2-0 win in Sligo backed up the claims of the former, despite the home side having the ball for most of the ninety minutes.

Tonight's final game against Athlone Town was a shambles, and in truth, departure was inevitable after the game. After a wonderful defensive performance in Sligo, Dundalk completely froze at the back and gifted simple goals to the opposition. As the game went on, the lack of organisation was apparent, with a disastrous switch to 3-4-3 leaving gaps all over the park. Gary Haylock spent most of the last half hour in central midfield, while David Ward ended up as the last man back on one occasion.

It was shambles, a sad mess, clearly illustrated by Athlone's comical fourth goal which sparked a mass exodus from the large crowd, leaving Oriel Park desolate and depressed. The manager wasn't there to see it. Twenty five minutes from time, after a needless dispute with referee and linesman, he was sent off. After sitting down for most of the game, he suddenly seemed to be overcome with rage, and given subsequent events, it wouldn't be overly speculative to suggest that the tirade on the referee was probably so incessant as it contained all the anger and rage he felt about the way in which things were unravelling on the field. To put it in simple terms, he had "lost it" completely. The end was nigh, and there was an air of inevitability about the announcement shortly after the final whistle.

How can you possibly assess the managerial career of Martin Murray? A success, a failure?

His remit, to take Dundalk back to the Premier Division and keep them there was not achieved. Yet, his reign brought with it some of the best days in the club's history, courtesy of the FAI Cup run. Murray assembled a squad good enough to win the FAI Cup, yet unable to stay in the top flight. His abilities of motivation have been questioned, with many claiming the FAI Cup victory was a result of the players looking to put themselves in the shop window. According to some, the big game atmosphere, and not the manager, inspired the players to success.

In a period of financial instability, the high turnover of players is an enduring legacy of the Murray era. Players such as Nesovic and Stu Connolly arrived for big money, but completely flopped. While the mindset of the players in question is rightly a talking point of it's own, the fact remains that an expensively assembled squad, that was a huge gamble massively underperformed. The current Dundalk squad has a wage bill of roughly 5,000 euro per week, probably more than double most First Division teams. Nine of them started the FAI Cup Final. Nothing less than first place will do, given the precarious situation the club is in. Therefore, the concession of eight goals in the first three home League games, and a failure to win any of the games in question was simply unacceptable.The manner in which the side folded against Athlone, in a disorganised shambolic state, was simply one bridge too far. Time for a change.

When was Martin Murray ever secure as manager of Dundalk ? Apart from his first three months in charge, he has constantly been under pressure. No one was completely satisfied after the first season. Several times throughout his second season in charge, it seemed like he was on the verge of jumping before he was pushed. The FAI Cup win saved his job, but after relegation, he was always under severe scrutiny. In recent weeks, his interviews have clearly displayed his vulnerability, and the pressure he was under. "Am I under pressure? No. The only person putting me under pressure is you" he told Gerry Malone of LMFM after the 2-2 draw with Cobh.

The recent departure of Frank O'Neill to Shelbourne, also raised doubts about the future of Murray. O'Neill was introduced to the club before the 2001/2 season, and was the man Murray reportedly turned to before making substitutions, and any other decisions of note. For the Presidents Cup Final, ironically against Shelbourne, Murray sat in the stand with his son, while O'Neill looked after things on the line. After a financial dispute, O'Neill left. Murray had previously been told by a club director to "try running the team himself". The authority of Murray was never fully apparent.

So what is the prevailing feeling now? Football fans are fickle. They like change, they like a new signing. Something new to talk about. When things are going bad, something must be changed, and when someone has been there a long time, they are normally the first to be targeted. Only two Dundalk players from the side that started against Athlone played in Murray's first competitive game in charge against Limerick back in August 2000 ; namely, Martin Reilly and David Ward. Are there any other Dundalk players that take more stick from the terraces than those two at the moment?

That said, in the case of Murray, he had to go : but while we look forward to the new arrival, you can't help but feel a tinge of sadness, especially when you hear the dignified manner in which he departed from the club. A great player, a Dundalk legend, and a manager capable of attracting and convincing players to join the club. A man stubborn in his faith, and belief in the abilities of his side. It would have been fantastic if the tactical nous, and ability to organise and assert authority on his team had also been there. It would have been a match made in heaven, but ultimately, it wasn't to be. Martin Murray should be given a warm welcome at Oriel Park, should he visit sometime in the future.

Yes, we probably all screamed abuse at him, and questioned his sanity regularly. At times, his stubborness was absolutely infuriating. But that's just the way he did things. He made his mistakes, and ultimately, it led to his resignation as manager. Hopefully all those who called for his head, myself included, will lose the anger felt towards the man, and raise a glass to the end of his connection with a club where he has won every single honour in Irish domestic football.

In his final words before leaving, Murray encouraged Dundalk fans to get behind the team for the rest of the season. Let's look forward to a new era in the history of Dundalk FC, and hopefully, in time, when we think of Martin Murray, we'll remember all the good times he enjoyed at the club. Thanks for the memories, Martin.


 

A WORLD APART

22nd August

This article also featured on HospitalPass, the new eircom League webzine on Wednesday, 21st August

Like most Dundalk fans, I travelled to Croatia last week with hope, and not with optimism. We may have been Cup winners, but going into the game with FC Varteks things were looking grim. Donal Broughan suspended and out, Robbie Brunton and Ciaran Kavanagh injured in a pointless game the previous Thursday, star man Gary Haylock unfit to start. However, deep down I felt with some of the Cup final spirit we could possibly shut them out, come out of the game with the tie still reasonably competitive. Within five minutes of kickoff, I knew that would be impossible. And what's more, I know that even with our full squad, the result would have been the same.

Croatia is a beautiful country. In the future, on HospitalPass, I will get around to the actual details of the trip itself, which involved such incidents as Croatian policeman wearing Dundalk shirts, a bunch of Dundalk fans ending up as Croatian TV stars and the capturing of Thunderbirds 2 on Friday evening. Those stories are for another time, and made up the social fun part of the trip. The Croatians were more than welcome to join in with our fun, and indeed, they were unable to keep up with our drinking. But when it came to football, they meant business, and completely outclassed us in every way.

The Dundalk team came to Varazdin and prepared properly. Trained every day, went to bed early and probably hated the supporters who looked to be having such a good time. Even the day after the game, they were out training ahead of the First Division campaign ahead. But, they could not live with Varteks on the field. And as a follower of Irish football who often fights their corner, and claims they are better than their European results suggest, it pains me to say that no other Irish club is anywhere near Varteks in terms of professionalism, organisation and general quality.

Croatia is by no means a rich country. Yes, it is developing, and there is an eye opening unequal distribution of wealth, but there are still genuine signs of poverty on the outskirts and in some of the towns. That said, Varazdin, where Varteks play is one of the more affluent towns. However, when you walk into stadium, it is hard to believe you have just walked in from the street outside. All seated on three sides, proper infrastructure and enough to seat large crowds. Not a thrown together collection of mismatched stands ala Tolka Park. Two sides far superior to the excellent Jodi Stand at Bohs, and another seated area behind the goals where the hardcore fans are gathered. The other end of the ground, which has nothing at the moment, will soon be renovated into another all seated stand. Far superior facilities than that of any club side in Ireland, and comparable to an English First Division ground.

On the pitch, their players were supremely fit, and technically superior. Despite being stretched at the back, and non existent up front, it was in midfield where Dundalk really lost the game. This was the Dundalk midfield that stopped the likes of Kevin Hunt in the FAI Cup Final. The Dundalk midfield that went unbeaten in two of the last seventeen games last season, bar the absent James Keddy. But, they were destroyed by Varteks. Their number 10 Mario Mumlek ran the game from start to player. A class player, a skilful midfielder who will in time represent his country. A player who knows it will benefit his career in the long term to stay at Varteks for the time being. A player that did not run off abroad at the first available opportunity, and that is where the crux of the problem in Irish football lies.

Last year, Varteks sold a player to Serie B in Italy for 2.5 million pounds, and this is where the money is coming from to have such fantastic facilities. What is the highest transfer fee received for a player from any Irish club ? £200,000 at the most? That isn't going to get you anywhere. In Ireland, we do have clubs with genuine potential. Cork City, Bohemians, St Patricks Athletic spring to mind. Could you imagine what a transfer fee of £2,500,000 could do for any of those clubs ? In fact, such a transfer fee for any Irish club would immediately elevate them to the status of the top club in the country.

It's simple - the thing preventing Irish clubs from progressing the most in Europe is the Irish people, and their starry eyed attitudes about big business English football. Last weekend, most of the newspapers reported about an eight year old boy from Dublin who is joining Manchester United. The name is Ross Murtagh, it's questionable if you will hear it again. Less than ten years on this earth, Ross has no doubt yet to physically develop. The most important days determining his career will lie ahead, but instead of letting him develop naturally, his family have decided to up ship to Manchester. The papers featured quotes from his proud father, welcoming a fantastic opportunity for his son. Without meaning to sound like Joe Duffy or some other do gooder, sometimes, you've just got to blame the parents. The attitude is all wrong. When their teenage sons go off to England, you have parents hosting street parties, toasting their achievements of their "boy" long into the night. When they come home from England onto the scrapheap, broken men with broken dreams, being knocked by the people that toasted their original success, it is the self same parents who will then come out blaming cruel English clubs for being too hard on their son.

Much as people put it up to the clubs to provide an alternative, Irish society puts the pressure on these youngsters to go across at an early stage. Clubs like Shelbourne, with the course run by Mick Neville, and the course at Bohemians have tried to offer an alternative. However, the fact remains that scouts working in this country have somehow managed to get it into young players heads, that the longer they remain in this country, their chances of "making it" are reduced.

In Croatia, no such attitude exists. Yes, the facilities are in place for youth development, but that is because over the years they managed to hold onto their best players. They are reaping the rewards for that now. While we battle for respect, in the shadow of cross channel football, Croatians have great pride in their teams. Last Thursday, all their sides in Europe won comfortably. All games involving their teams were shown on live television, and the newspapers gave blanket coverage. All opponents were treated with respect beforehand, and the whole thing was professionally run. Compare that with the belligerent attitude of the newspapers in Ireland, and you will realise that a long long battle lies ahead. Never mind the people who talk of improvement, the fact remains, we are basically standing still.

Pats fans will point out that they defeated Rijeka and ran Ghent close in Europe. Reality check needed. First of all, it was the Inter Two Bob Cup. Newry Town went on a run in that a few years back, but Irish League Football has not progressed since.

Secondly, the Varteks fans are a reasonable bunch, aware of their team's abilities. They are not bullish, and have no particular dislike for Rijeka. Clinging to straws, we asked before the game if we could garner any hope for the Pats-Rijeka result. Nikolai, our Croat guide, searched for the proper word to describe Rijeka's place in Croatian football, and eventually came up with "losers". The Dinamo fan who had travelled from Zagreb confirmed our worst fears. Between Varteks and Rijeka, there was "no comparison".

Thirdly, this whole propaganda trip about Irish clubs running Belgian clubs in Europe being a sign of progress is nothing new. Eight years ago, in the UEFA Cup, a competition of significance, Sligo Rovers ran FC Bruges of Belgium very close over two legs. Sure, St Pats were the best team last season, but isn't it worrying that our second best team lost to Hibernians of Malta ? Isn't it worrying that our best team from last season lost narrowly to the Belgian reps in the Inter Toto Cup, not the best side in Belgium.

Bohemians fans are coming out with their "Big Club" talk stating that they would have done better. But, the fact remains that they did not qualify. Why not ? Because they destroyed themselves from within, when they had the best Irish club side in recent years. Irish football shooting itself in the foot again, lacking the basic stability required to compete consistently at European level, an ingredient that Varteks, now annual participants in European competition, have. And that is despite the fact that Varazdin is no bigger a town than Dundalk.

Last week in Croatia was the biggest eye opener ever for this committed Irish football fan. Despite all our riches gained from the EU, the fact we proclaim ourselves to be the best football fans in the world we still cannot convince young footballers that staying at home until they are ready is the best thing for them. Until that happens, we will never progress in Europe. And it really hurts me to say that.

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