McCaffrey wants to build 'sustainable model'

Soccer: Former Republic of Ireland underage manager Seán McCaffrey has been named as the new manager of Dundalk FC and has set himself lofty targets.

Despite only signing a one-year contract, the 52-year-old is determined to put in place a “sustainable model” which is there whether his tenure last beyond that or not.

“I see it as a long-term project,” McCaffrey told dundalkfc.com after being confirmed as Ian Foster’s successor. “Teams come and go and managers come and go. If you look at what Alex Ferguson did at Manchester United or Wenger at Arsenal – they built a club.

“They have a situation where they buy good players and they produce good players, so it’s a mixture of both, and the structure from scouting 12-year-olds right through to scouting top international players is in place in both those clubs.

“That’s the only type of a model that is sustainable. And League of Ireland football has always struggled because there hasn’t been an appropriate model that is sustainable for the finances around the league and for the long-term.

“That’s what we’re going to try to do. Money will build you a team and it could maybe build you a club, but you need to put the structures in place.

“Everything needs to be right, instead of this situation in League of Ireland football where the manager goes and the whole team goes, and the whole thing starts all over again.

“It’s just not sustainable and it’s not the sensible approach,” added the former Ireland under 17, 18 and 19 boss.

McCaffrey has history with Dundalk having watched them as a teenager and says he will be keeping in close contact with the local leagues to unearth some local talent.

“I think it’s a club with a fantastic fan base and huge potential. It’s a huge football town. The Dundalk Schoolboys’ League is on your doorstep, and I know a lot of people involved in it – Gerry Gover and Larry Gorham.

“There are a lot of very good clubs around Dundalk, so I know the potential there. I capped a few young Dundalk players through the years, and I’d know the history of it well.

“There’s a huge challenge with the job. There’s a fairly small budget but, having said that, Gerry Matthews has spent a fortune on the club and the Youth Development Centre is a fabulous facility.

“You can’t spend it at both ends so we have to put up with a small budget for a couple of seasons and manage it as best as we can. But, first and foremost, you have the club there and you have the fan base there, and since Gerry has come in, you have a great facility as well as the stadium itself.”