Dundalk FC head coach Stephen O'Donnell after Shels loss – 'I'm ...

Pressure grew on the Lilywhites head coach after his side fell further adrift at the bottom of the table on Friday night following a fourth defeat in six matches away to table toppers Shelbourne, who were 2-1 winners at Tolka Park.

After being asked had he considered stepping away from the role, O’Donnell made a robust defence of his record, hinting that matters off the field had left the club in a situation where – even at this early stage – it was battling the drop for the first time since 2002.

“No because I’m not like that,” he said when asked if he had considered stepping down from the role he has held since December 2021 when he joined the club on the back of his FAI Cup win with St Patrick’s Athletic.

“I’m not that type. I’m not going to walk away. No chance.

“I gave up a lot to come to this club. I gave up a hell of a lot because that’s my feelings towards the club,” said the former club captain.

“This club came sixth with a plethora of players before I came – of league winners, of top echelon players that came third after 18 games the season before, 20 something points (behind) in an 18 game season with a plethora of top quality players. So this club was struggling long before I came and that’s the bottom line. And I done a hell of a good job the last two years. “We had two players signed two seasons ago and we came third on goal difference so people tend to forget that. A new owner came in at the start of December and domestic players were gone. We lost players, going to Derry City and that because we couldn’t act. That’s the bottom line so then where’s the market? We have to go and attract players and we have to attract new players who are coming in at the start of their careers. We’re getting players in 10 days before the window closes before the start of the season. That’s where we’re at. That’s where Dundalk is at so people need to realise that.”

O’Donnell said people needed to “get realistic” about where the club was at despite criticism of their form even last season when the side finished fifth to narrowly miss out on a return to Europe.

“This club wasn’t going great before I came in,” he said.

“I gave up a hell of a lot to come to this club and that’s the bottom line so I’m sick of people questioning it. People need to get realistic of where the club is at and where it has been at for the past three years. That’s it. That’s the bottom line and everybody needs to realise that and start getting behind it because this is where we’re at at this minute in time.

“It has gone through three or four different owners. Brian (Ainscough) has come in and he has tried to put a stamp on it and he is doing his best. He started late. A new owner in December. The market is gone. Domestic players are gone and we lose our best players. So wake up.

“This club wasn’t in a great condition with multiple league winners, with multiple Cup winners the two seasons previous that I came in 2020 and 2021. In an 18 game season they were 20-something points behind the top. So going off that they were going to end up 40-something points behind top in that season. Sixth the season after. Sixth. With all those calibre of players. So that’s where it was at. New owners, two players signed in December, came third. Came fifth last season, total failure. Not in my book was it a total failure.”

O’Donnell said he had not become disillusioned with the role and insisted he had “full belief” in the players to turn things around ahead of a “massive game” against Drogheda United at Oriel Park on Easter Monday (kick-off: 1pm).

“I’m not disillusioned. I don’t really get disillusioned in the sense that there’s a job to do and there’s a job in hand. It’s a massive job now in regards getting us ready first and foremost for Monday and that’s the way I see it.

“I have belief in the players. Again, we need to play with more incisiveness and more penetration. We need to think more aggressively in our play, there’s no doubt about that and that’s what we’ll be working towards.

“We’ve not started the season well, we know that, but are you going to dwell on it or are you going to get ready for the challenge ahead? We have Monday straight away and an early kick-off at one o’clock and we’ve to get ready for the game.”

Asked about scrutiny over his position, O’Donnell said his sole focus was on getting his side ready for Monday’s Louth derby.

“I’m not really concerned by that to be honest,” he said of the speculation.

“It’s not about me and it’s not about any individual. I’m not going to concern myself do I have long to go or not, I’m going to get this team prepared and ready to rock for Monday afternoon. That’s the bottom line. That’s my remit. That’s my job and I’ll do that.”

He also refused to speculate on how long he had to prove his worth to new owner Brian Ainscough.

“I don’t know. How would I know? So don’t’ be asking me silly questions,” he said.