Dundalk to reinvest Europa League earnings and keep Giovagnoli

Dundalk FC are set to offer a contract to their interim head-coach Filippe Giovagnoli beyond the end of the season following their qualification for the Europa League.

The Lilywhites will face Arsenal, Rapid Vienna and Molde in the group stages after beating KI of the Faroe Islands 3-1 at the Aviva Stadium in the playoff-round last night.

PEAK6 chief Bill Hulsizer says he's happy to offer the Italian coach the job on a full-time basis after an impressive first month at the helm at Oriel Park.

Giovagnoli told OTB Sports on Wednesday night that he was hoping to remain in charge for the 2021 season and said last night that talks are continuing with the club's American owners about a deal.

“I want to stay, I want to build something with Dundalk. We have a lot of potential.”

Suggested to Dundalk head coach Filippo Giovagnoli that now is a good time to ask for a contract, he says he wants to create something special at the club pic.twitter.com/KaQKk3yknA

— Will O'Callaghan (@willocallaghan) October 1, 2020

former Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr has called on Dundalk's owners to invest their three-million Euro windfall into upgrading their facilities and Hulsizer has vowed to make improvements.

“We have, from the beginning, said that is what we want to do," he told The Irish Examiner.

“I can’t talk about what was here before we came but I know we have one of the better training facilities in the country. It wasn’t cheap but it has been a good investment.”

Dundalk's Europa League fixtures have also been confirmed this evening with the League of Ireland champions set to travel to FA Cup winners Arsenal on October 29th before finishing their campaign away to the Gunners on December 10th.

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