Oriel Park – where the Dublin-born, Boston-based businessman spoke yesterday at his first press conference – will require a new pitch and floodlights within the next 18 months. The overall stands, at considerable cost, need major upgrades.

In the first instance, however, Ainscough’s initial promise following his switch from being chief executive of start-up Kerry FC is arm O’Donnell with a competitive budget.

The current player pool retained for next season is 14 and the newcomer feels the funds are there to enter the top three that would guarantee European qualification for 2025.

Similar to how he operated in Kerry, though, extra investors are being lined up to bolster the backing. They may even be some of those he brought to Kerry.

“I’ve been talking to investors and we’ll be getting them over the line in the next few months,” he vowed.

“They haven’t given me the money so they’re never over until they give you the money. When they do, it will be out there.

“When talking to investors, you’re speaking about Oriel Park and the academy - a couple of different layers. I don’t think a lot of investment that we seek is going just into the first-team.

“We talk about infrastructure and there are few other things that need to be taken care of in the club, so we’re talking about the whole picture of the club.

“Spending this week at the club has given me an education. I can now go back to my investors and tell them what is going on at ground level here.” 

Privately funding the renovations is a non-runner given the scale involved. Dundalk were not one of the League clubs that activated the Immigration Investor Programme that closed 10 months ago – the scheme Louth GAA sourced €14.6m through – but they are leaning on the Government for grants.

“Most facilities around here that I see need help,” said Ainscough. “Some of them look like they’re on life support and Oriel Park definitely needs a lot of love and attention.

“So the first thing obviously right now is that they’ve put in for Sport Grants which are supposed to take care of the field getting done and some work towards the lights. They’d be two of the main things that we as a club will address. The pitch is certified for the upcoming season and then we’ll see what happens.” 

Antiquated facilities and struggling for parts of last season contributed to Dundalk being one of only two Premier Division clubs not to increase attendances in 2023. Still, Ainscough is adamant the club is well supported.

“Ireland’s population is increasing and you see the league attendances going up,” he began. “The town of Dundalk has 40,000 people and we got nearly 3,000 fans to each game last season. There’s no other club around the country achieving that, percentage wise.

“If Cork had that, they’d have 20,000 fans at their games. That’s what gets me off my seat. I walked down the street and the Dundalk people are fantastic. I walked up here today carrying my bag and got stopped six times by people who have been fans of this club for 50 years.

“The idea is that we could get some portable stands that aren’t expensive to dress up the facility, and put some red and black seating rather than grey out there. Those cosmetic things will make the fans feel that we’re doing something.”