In what is already a major week for Dundalk FC, there's been some huge news in regard to Oriel Park.
The club had been looking to redevelop its home for years, but had been locked in a dispute with former owner Gerry Matthews.
Dundalk were unable to receive the necessary grants to renovate the ground unless they held the lease. That belonged to Matthews. He had built a 'Youth Development Complex' in 2010 on the Oriel site. He also stated in the past that he was planning to demolish the YDC. Attempts were made to try and recover some of the €3.8m he had put into building it.
He was willing to give the YDC and the lease to Dundalk for a sum of €250,000. Dundalk CEO Martin Connolly had refused that and it led us to where we are now - a deadlock. Dundalk weren't able to improve Oriel and Matthews wasn't budging.
However, there's been a breakthrough in negotiations.
Just spoke to former Dundalk FC owner Gerry Matthews who said he has reached an agreement with the club over the YDC and lease of Oriel
— James Rogers (@jamesrogersie) November 14, 2016
The club have struck a deal with Matthews, which paves the way for a redeveloped Oriel. It's major news for Dundalk for three reasons.
1. In the longterm, they can finally renovate the worst away end in the entire country
Multiple injuries have occurred in the Oriel Park away end, which is the same now as it was in the 1980s. This should be Dundalk's second biggest concern if they do manage to gain control.
That should also help them with UEFA's regulations. Currently, Oriel doesn't meet the 'Category 3' regulations, which is why they had to play a good chunk of their European fixtures in Tallaght.
2. In the shortterm, they can relay the pitch with proper grass or better astroturf
If you watch a Dundalk game on television, you'll have noticed the sight of patches of black pellets all over the pitch. It is not the best image for the champions. It's well-known in league circles that Stephen Kenny wants his side to play on grass next season, so with the funds in place, they can now do that.
3. Overall, it could rubberstamp their dominance
If they do manage to get grass into Oriel, it spells trouble for the rest of the league. Winning at Oriel Park is hard enough as it is. So much so, only three sides have managed it in the last two seasons.
Dundalk did not lose a game on a grass pitch in 2015. They only lost five times in 2016 away from Oriel.
Dundalk fans have claimed that their team would be 'unstoppable' if they played on grass every week.
The one possible downside?
The redevelopemnt will cost a lot of money. Connolly has said in the Dundalk Democrat that the cost of their Europa League travels has taken about €3 million out of their prize fund (which doesn't come through until November 2017). The amount of work that is needed in Oriel Park will add on another couple of million euros.
But we doubt that they're worrying about that right now. AZ Alkamaar come to town (well, Tallaght) on 24 November.
