Last December, Dylan Connolly signed a two-year deal with Bray Wanderers amid a flurry of interest from Dundalk. The former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international was one of the Wicklow club’s marquee signings in their bid to enter the elite level of the League of Ireland.
Just over a week ago, Connolly moved to Dundalk for a reported €40,000, a fraction of what the League of Ireland champions could have paid at the end of last season.
Speaking to 98FM’s League of Ireland Podcast, ahead of his debut for Dundalk in their 1-0 win against Bohemians on Wednesday night, Connolly claimed he was sold “a dream” by chairman Denis O’Connor and investor Gerry Mulvey.
I found out about the Bray nonsense a month or so ago. I knew they were in trouble. Dundalk came back in for me because they tried to sign me in the last window. I said, 'Yeah, let's try and get something done' because I knew the troubles were coming.
I think it’s an absolute shambles. Denis 'The Menace' O’Connor, the chairman - players are not going to be paid. He knew this was coming.
He (O’Connor) came out at the start of the season with a five-year strategic plan and pulls the plug after six months, it’s shocking.
Connolly joined Bray ahead of the start of last season on a two-year deal. Such was his form in his debut season at the Carlisle Grounds, he signed an improved deal in December.
When I signed a new deal at the start of the year, I was told that there are no issues, the money's there, that they don't need to sell me because they have loads of money. They were going to sign this player and that player.
It was all false promises. They sold me a dream, I went with it and six months down the line it's gone AWOL.
It's not fair on anybody, the fans, the players, the manager as well. They've given the manager this budget and it's all gone.
As Bray's immediate future remains uncertain, Connolly told 98FM where he felt the blame lies, and it has nothing to do with the playing or coaching staff.
It's the two boys at the top, O'Connor and Mulvey. There claiming that they have money to spend, and they have given Harry a budget. It’s nothing to do with Harry. He can only spend what he is given
It’s the two boys at the top. It’s shocking.
Despite Connolly's negative comments about O'Connor and Mulvey, the club decided to publicise the interview on their social media channels.
An interview with former seagull and fans favourite Dylan Connolly https://t.co/DYooVZSps7
— Bray Wanderers FC (@BrayWanderers) July 5, 2017
