‘Whether you are PSG or Drogheda' - LOI side's level playing field plea to UEFA
Daire Doyle says Drogheda United should be treated no differently to the biggest European clubs when it comes to implementing UEFA's multi-club ownership rules.
Multi-ownership is becoming more and more common throughout the game, with European champions Paris St Germain just one example.
They are owned by Qatar Sports Investment, as are Portuguese side Braga, who are set to compete in next season's Europa League.
Drogheda United's problem is, their owners, Trivela Group, bought a majority stake in Danish side Silkeborg, who last weekend qualified for the same competition - the Europa Conference League - as the Boynesiders.
This has put Drogheda's place in European competition this summer in jeopardy, and talks are ongoing between the League of Ireland side and UEFA on how to resolve the issue.
Similar discussions are ongoing regarding Europa League qualifiers Crystal Palace and Lyon, who are both majority-owned by US businessman John Textor.
United assistant manager Daire Doyle said: 'You'd hope it would be the same procedures regardless. I know they (Crystal Palace) were over at the same time.
'The procedures should follow, whatever it is, whether you are PSG or Drogheda, it should be the same.'
Talks are ongoing, with a resolution needed ahead of the European draws, which take place on June 17.
Doyle continued: 'I know the club have been in contact with UEFA over the past number of months, they're doing all they can and they've let me know that they're hopeful that we can see a positive outcome to it all.
'There has been indirect contact with UEFA for a number of months now, there has been work done over a period of time to do what we need to do to find a solution to it.
'Talks have been going on, I think they're confidential talks. I know the club and the board are doing everything they can to make sure it turns out we're playing in Europe. That the big thing.
'But at the moment, them talks are confidential, and are ongoing.
'We'll hope for a positive outcome and look forward to a European campaign but on top of that, I don't know much else to be honest.'
Trivela bought a majority stake in Silkeborg earlier this year and straight away that raised alarm bells at Drogheda, who secured their European spot by winning last November's FAI Cup final.
The Danish outfit only claimed their place in last week's play-off for the country's final European spot.
But in the event that UEFA ruled only one club could proceed into the Europa Conference League, Silkeborg would advance because of their higher league finish to Drogheda's last season, when they finished ninth in the Premier Division.
'Hopefully we are in a position where ourselves and Silkeborg can both play in Europe,' Doyle continued.
'The players are aware of the situation, we've told them as much as I've told you today.
'We're trying to keep them in the loop as regards what's happening but the outcome hasn't come out as yet.
'So we now have to wait on that, we've gone into UEFA with the full respect that the situation deserves, we've put forward our case to them and we're hopeful that we'll be in Europe come July.'
In the meantime, Doyle and manager Kevin Doherty are doing all they can to prepare for the club's first foray into Europe in 12 years.
'We focus on the football and on the pitch, that is our job, we leave that sort of stuff to the board that do the job on that end,' he said.
'They've assured us they are doing everything they can. We want it to be positive and we believe it will be but until the decision is made, there is not a lot we can really say.
'As regards the players, we're just keeping them focused on the next few games, we've had a really good first half of the start of the season where we picked up a lot of points with our performances.
'That's going to be the challenge now for the second half of the year, can we put in the performances to get them points to keep us in a position that we're challenging. That's what we're focused on.'
Drogheda's focus will soon include their defence of the FAI Cup - and yesterday they were handed a banana-skin of a home tie against top Leinster Senior League side Crumlin United.
'I've actually seen them play this season, I go to quite a few Leinster Senior League games myself,' said Doyle.
'I have a 22-year-old son (Jack) playing for Home Farm. I've seen quite a few games this year, they've quite a few good players.
'James Lee is an excellent manager and former player as well, we're really happy we got a home draw, that's the most important thing.
'We'll do our homework on Crumlin now and make sure we find out as much as we can about them before the game.'
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