Athlone Town FC

[Strongbow10]

Has there ever been a stranger outfit in Irish football. Athlone are the oldest Senior league club in the country.

The disconnect between the club and the community is quite stark, we are not a GAA town whatsoever, with some great "soccer people" here but they have been alienated by the club (or vice versa) for a very long time.

The current set up is tied to some Valeo Sports crowd with links in the US and Portugal, I'm from Athlone and that's pretty much the extent I know about this crowd.

Nobody seems to care enough to look into what it's all about, I've heard murmurs that the club have no ambitions or wishes to be promoted due to cost involved at Premier Division level, and given the disconnect between the local community and current management/board there's little appetite to develop this.

Last year club stalwart Micky O'Connor described Valeo Sports as the greatest thing to happen to Athlone, does anyone know who the hell they are?

[ger121]

Truly an enigma of a club at the moment. Their worst fears may come to pass, because of all the teams in the POs, I think Athlone can cause the 9th place PD side the most problems.

[legendz]

I've heard murmurs that the club have no ambitions or wishes to be promoted due to cost involved at Premier Division level, and given the disconnect between the local community and current management/board there's little appetite to develop this.
What extra costs are there at Premier level?
In a worst case scenario, can they just bobble along in the Premier on a First Division budget? Are they looking at bringing through players? If they somehow won the FAI Cup against all the odds, surely the owners would want the financial windfall?
The top clubs in Gibraltar of all places can recruit sensibly for a financial windfall. Cypriot clubs have gone reasonably well in European competitions as well.

[Strongbow10]

Ongoings at the club remain an absolute mystery, even to locals. I couldn't even tell you who the coach is. You get the impression it's not a profit making venture. We don't develop our own players, we have the most beautiful kit this season, yet we are the only club in Ireland that have no interest in selling the thing to supporters, it's just not available.

It's a very strange mysterious setup. I know there was some kind of power struggle over ownership of the ground too previously and allegations of dodgy dealings (I emphasise the word allegations), the current executive have a knack of suing anyone who asks questions.

Who are Valeo? They are supposedly a non profit crowd from US, but who funds the whole enterprise? Genuinely curious.

[joey B]

So they don’t want promotion,not in it for profit and have no local interest or don’t want any! So of course they’re alot better than the majority of the league,real GLITW stuff!

[Nesta99]

So they don’t want promotion,not in it for profit and have no local interest or don’t want any! So of course they’re alot better than the majority of the league,real GLITW stuff!

Its great, a new way of LoI madness - accidenatly competative, unintended promotion push, dont want to develop income streams or sign best local talent for buttons....I wish Dundalk could accidentaly get 8th place!!

[cláirseach]

Is Athlone still a member's club (in theory at least)?

[total hoofball]

Athlone have been a basket case for about a decade now hitting the ridiculousness of that infamous 2017 team with the 'dodgy' duo of Igors Labuts and Dragos Sfrijan and a collection of random Portuguese and Uruguayan players and other murmurings of skulduggery

Now in 2024 while being a better team in a bad First Division they have dumped the club's blue and black colours with a collection of a half-dozen yanks in men's and a number in their women's teams plus another couple of Europeans, do they emigrate from the US over to Athlone to play for expenses or if paid €200-€300 per week or is there some education link up?

From my research of Valeo FC they are certainly nowhere near any remote major players in US football, they are mysteriously local and are more of a private academy, strange that they would spend significant finances on effectively a transatlantic franchise in Athlone, they are not going to get US players sold by Athlone in the First Division to the European markets for 100k let alone 1m+ to make it viable

[Strongbow10]

Athlone have been a basket case for about a decade now hitting the ridiculousness of that infamous 2017 team with the 'dodgy' duo of Igors Labuts and Dragos Sfrijan and a collection of random Portuguese and Uruguayan players and other murmurings of skulduggery

Now in 2024 while being a better team in a bad First Division they have dumped the club's blue and black colours with a collection of a half-dozen yanks in men's and a number in their women's teams plus another couple of Europeans, do they emigrate from the US over to Athlone to play for expenses or if paid €200-€300 per week or is there some education link up?

From my research of Valeo FC they are certainly nowhere near any remote major players in US football, they are mysteriously local and are more of a private academy, strange that they would spend significant finances on effectively a transatlantic franchise in Athlone, they are not going to get US players sold by Athlone in the First Division to the European markets for 100k let alone 1m+ to make it viable

Id imagine they are studying in the college but it's a pure mystery to be honest. I know they charge underage players to train etc... In their under 14s upwards.

This Valeo crowd are very local in the US, it's an odd set up to be honest. Again, want to be very careful what's said.

[Martinho II]

I would gladly exchange wot Athlone have going on this season for our woes this season! Both clubs have a huge disconnect with the local community going back years now!

[outspoken]

I would gladly exchange wot Athlone have going on this season for our woes this season! Both clubs have a huge disconnect with the local community going back years now!

Athlone Town have been a nothing club for the best part of 20 years bad one good season under Roddy in 2013.

They've been involved in numerous scandals on and off the pitch and now nobody has a clue who or how they are run.

Longford Town have built a modern stadium that they own and owe nothing on, have won 3 national cups, played in Europe and have enjoyed numerous spells in the top flight out of a town with a far smaller population than Athlone. If you'd seriously swap all of that for one bad season I'd be absolutely amazed.

[Martinho II]

Well with the way things are going on and off the pitch I would be confident that this blip would be for more than one season imo.

[LTFC]

I would imagine an extra 500k on top of first div costs. And likely relegation as your've still the smallest budget in the premier.

Income does go up, but not nearly enough. Would need about 300k of additional match day income and a further 200k of additional sponsorship.

At the other end of the scale, a very large investment over a longer period of time could pay for itself, with UEFA prizemoney and player sales.

[outspoken]

I would imagine an extra 500k on top of first div costs. And likely relegation as your've still the smallest budget in the premier.

Income does go up, but not nearly enough. Would need about 300k of additional match day income and a further 200k of additional sponsorship.

At the other end of the scale, a very large investment over a longer period of time could pay for itself, with UEFA prizemoney and player sales.

I think this is a huge problem now for clubs like Longford and Athlone, if they go up they are on a hiding to nothing. Things were further exacerbated for Longford given they went up during Covid so they didn't get the financial boost of big away gates. Longford were sensible and didn't spend beyond their means so were ok when they came down and able to complete again (things gone a bit haywire since) but if a club go up and try to spend like mad to compete they could end up in serious bother

[De Town]

Interesting comments from Dan McDonnell on last night's LOI Central pod, alluding to Athlone Town and the ongoings there at the moment. Players on full time contracts in the PD last year signing on amateur terms with Athlone for this season apparently.

He didn't name the club or any names and sounded like he was at pains to say too much in case of getting himself into a spot of bother but the house of cards there will surely fall at some stage.

The likes of Dean Williams, Declan McDaid, JR Wilson, Kailin Barlow were all at FT clubs last year but now signed up at Athlone. Would love to know more about what's going on, but we may never find out.

[total hoofball]

Interesting comments from Dan McDonnell on last night's LOI Central pod, alluding to Athlone Town and the ongoings there at the moment. Players on full time contracts in the PD last year signing on amateur terms with Athlone for this season apparently.

He didn't name the club or any names and sounded like he was at pains to say too much in case of getting himself into a spot of bother but the house of cards there will surely fall at some stage.

The likes of Dean Williams, Declan McDaid, JR Wilson, Kailin Barlow were all at FT clubs last year but now signed up at Athlone. Would love to know more about what's going on, but we may never find out.
'Amateur' terms like Darren Quigley back in the day with Bray Wanderers?

[Longfordian]

It's not the first time he's hinted at strange goings on there but if they have a fondness for suing people he's probably not got strong enough evidence to be more specific in public.

[Nesta99]

What's the benefit if they are paying out to players on amateur forms. Players have less security if money stops too. There is an onus on players not to break rules too. I think it was after Dundalk signed Jeff McNamara that the 'amateur player' loophole was closed and with transfer windows. That served a short term issue for DFC within the then rules but it's messy on all sorts of levels these days. They'd be better off trying the double contract method and spoof it.

[nigel-harps1954]

They've been at it for a few years now.

[2 Year Contract]

What's the benefit if they are paying out to players on amateur forms. Players have less security if money stops too. There is an onus on players not to break rules too. I think it was after Dundalk signed Jeff McNamara that the 'amateur player' loophole was closed and with transfer windows. That served a short term issue for DFC within the then rules but it's messy on all sorts of levels these days. They'd be better off trying the double contract method and spoof it.

Agreed the double contract way would surely be the less obvious of illegalities than the full time professional to ametuer gimmick.


A real shame that in one of the club's several break ins in recent years that the club computer was apparently stolen. Hmmm :D

https://www.westmeathindependent.ie/2022/12/28/athlone-town-blasts-wanton-destruction-after-stadium-break-in/

[Shearer]

Not the only club in the region doing this, albeit with smaller money that's above minimum wage

[Elfman]

I know signing former pro players on amateur contracts isn't breaking the rules per se but it's questionable enough to warrant the FAI investigating before granting them a FD licence. Looks like Courell's talk of tightening financial checks after the Dundalk licencing loophole hasn't been backed by enforcement...

[Nesta99]

Was it a loophole or just a half baked job done by the licencing committee -they'd call it a loophole before theyd admit that they just didnt check things out. There are plenty of issues with enforcement of existing rules loopholes and all oer the years. My favourite is that plans for stadium development are sufficient to not meet ground requirements.

[Elfman]

Haha exactly. The 'loophole' being that the FAI only check a club's finances once before awarding the licence. And they had no process in place if a club was sold before the start of the season but after a licence was awarded. And despite it happening in 2023, no-one from the FAI spoke up or followed up until the end of the season when Dundalk looked like they were in serious trouble.

Not sure I follow you on the last point though - is this a club who was awarded a licence based off of stadium plans that wouldn't meet the minimum requirements, even if they were implemented?

[Nesta99]

Basically yes. If a club has just plans for a new development then a licence is awarded even if the current ground doesnt meet licencing requirements (Im not talking about a club with nothing but a pitch). United Park is probably the best example and one that has recieved derrogations for the longest as there has been one new ground or pie in the sky park or another in the works for a could of decades. Oriel is a kip but believe it of not meets most of the requirements so why I have not picked on my own beautiful kip! Finn Park might be another but I dont think it misses as much as United Park especially on the important issues like exits, evacuation times, away fans not having to walk across the pitch to exit, to floodlights and pitch perimeter wall being almost on the touchline so H+S issue for players etc.

I dont know whether its been good or bad, it could have driven clubs out of the league or out of business if applied strictly, but certainly in Dundalk's case stricter application of licencing on Oriel may have forced a new stand or extension of the main stand by now after European earnings and not missed grant applications over the years from 2016. If not going to a greenfield site most grounds would be exposed to the planning process from which they'd have previously been exempt - so try to build a new stand in Oriel, not changing capacity, but then traffic management comes in to play and it gets messy as where Oriel, UP, and many other grounds are traffic congestion is an issue match night, people parking on footpaths, local residents objecting to plans etc. One Drogheda plan was objected to by the NRA as parking would have happened on the on/off ramp and hard shoulder of the M1. Too much info for the question asked but another example of why there are no straight lines in LoI!!

[Elfman]

Ah yes, I'm with you I just didn't follow your last sentence. I thought you might have been alluding to a specific incident - such as the infamous GUFC stand incident that cost Dundalk that promotion back in 2007.

It's a fair point about preventing criteria becoming too strict that they potentially force clubs out of the league when we don't have enough clubs to replace them with. But I really don't think we're in danger of being too strict when it comes to the League of Ireland! If anything, we're too lax meaning stuff like Dundalk's situation last year goes unnoticed. And without relegation, there's no where to fall.

However, it also means there's no external threat which should in theory make it easier to set basic standards, like requiring national youth teams. If you compare our stadium criteria with the NIPL's most of our clubs (PD & FD) would probably meet the NIPL standards (bar the toilet requirements) but none of them outside Shamrock Rovers meet our own the PD standards.

I just find it pointless that our league sets criteria for Fifa category 1 & 2 stadiums, which is currently impossible for almost every club to meet. It doesn't seem too hard to introduce lower, more achievable criteria that would still improve things over time, albeit slowly. Being stricter could simply mean adding spending caps to the club until the short-term plans are implemented (and credit to Shelbourne who did appear to have made some H&S to their main stand this year).

[Nesta99]

That damn fancy DVD arranged by one of the greatest fraudsters of all time!! Might get over it one day...

There is definitely argument to have attainable minimum standards. What I would like to see now under the changed attitude of Dept of Sport and with the new cool LoI is the current minimums being presented to Govt. for planned and leaguewide funding. In a manner where joint tenders could minimise cost if it was possible. Yup f...ing toilets, crazy that its such a common non complance issue. You would think that with no relegation risk from senior football that it would have allowed for greater facilities development but as a league we just iflated wages in a shortsighted arms race for decades but its also created a competative league where teams have their day but few ever completely dominate ala Scotland.

[Elfman]

I guess as much as I complain about facilities I should be grateful we now promote based on meritocracy and not solely on how big your stand is!


Haha hats off to you Nesta, you're thinking bigger than me. That's a good solution alright; get the government to fund minimum standards across multiple clubs at once! The money is earmarked for a specific, measurable target so it can't get redirected elsewhere and if it does, it makes the whole league look bad and puts future funding in jeopardy, hopefully keeping every club honest.


I'm not sure if I agree that the inflated wages has prevented a Celtic/Rangers style domination of the league (more a temporary domination by clubs until they implode) but I am thankful how competitive the PD is. To bring this back on topic, let's just hope that if there are suspicious things happening behind the scenes in Athlone, they get stopped before they negatively impact the club.

[Shearer]

"Las Damas understands that the FAI has refused to register a number of Athlone players due to issues with visas/work permits. Players who will miss today's game against @WexfordFCWomen include Maddie Gibson and a number of overseas players" (https://x.com/TOTAPLasDamas/status/1898387064497766696?t=OeDrwFMHIgv0N2jBcMlWYw&s=19)

[Nesta99]

Shouldnt be in the country without a visa if one is needed. Can you register and play football if its for 'recreation' avoiding work permits?

[Elfman]

Seems like she was on a student visa which I wouldn't have thought was a problem in an predominately amateur league. But the claim is that Athlone are now applying for a work visa which would require paying her at least €770 a week for the year. Can Athlone afford that?

[nigel-harps1954]

Seems like she was on a student visa which I wouldn't have thought was a problem in an predominately amateur league. But the claim is that Athlone are now applying for a work visa which would require paying her at least €770 a week for the year. Can Athlone afford that?


Surely that can't be right? Minimum wage would meet the requirements, presumably.

[Elfman]

Surely that can't be right? Minimum wage would meet the requirements, presumably.
True, it might be bull - the Twitter account said the visa required a minimum salary of 40k per year so I just cacluated the weekly amount.

According to the General Employment Visa requirements, the minimum salary is €34k per year but Sports and Fitness jobs are not eligible for this so it could well be a different visa they're on about:
https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving-country/working-in-ireland/employment-permits/work-permits/

[Nesta99]

Is there a market for womens player sales out of LoI? Or is this a longer term thing where naturalisation is the gateway to EU/UK clubs for an agent to make money on free transfers. Its long and risky investment. Maybe the are just trying to improve the squad with cheap foreign talent!!

[total hoofball]

I've believe with LOI US/Canadian imports both men and women there is a mixture of student, other full-time employment who have visas and holders of Irish passports. I think some on the Shels women's team may have been studying they usually move on after a season or two. I don't see any LOI team hitting it lucky with any US/Canadian import flogging them off to Europe for a big transfer fee they would have ended up in MLS or NWSL if they had shown signs of that talent level through their systems, that's why the Athlone/Valeo thing made no financial sense anyone decent like Pierrot or Hickey will be off to a bigger LOI team or off elsewhere in Europe after becoming a free agent

The Athlone women's refusals is crazy if any of them had recently graduated Athlone would have known if they did not secure a full-time job with a work permit that they would be ineligible to be registered play LOI and 'LOI footballer' is certainly not on the critical skills occupation list if Athlone are thinking about to paying anyone €38k+ to play in the LOI Women's Premier Division while JR Wilson, Dean Williams, Kailin Barlow, Declan McDaid etc. are hilariously rumoured to be on amateur terms!

[LTFC]

I am missing something here? It sounds like Athlone are spending more on there womens adult team, than there mens adult team. Cant imagine any Athlone mens first team player earning 30k pa.

[total hoofball]

I am missing something here? It sounds like Athlone are spending more on there womens adult team, than there mens adult team. Cant imagine any Athlone mens first team player earning 30k pa.

It doesn't appear you are missing anything, per below IT article quotes from their club secretary Athlone have signed four US players to their women's team on professional contracts and in one case they have received a work permit

The 'Critical Skills Employment Permits' list certainly does not include anything for professional sports athletes but from the 'General Employment Permit' and the 'Ineligible List of Occupations for employment permits' list I can't see anything that excludes professional sports athletes so I am assuming all four will have to qualify for the 'General Employment Permit' thus all four if approved will have to be paid a minimum salary of 34k (!)

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2025/03/09/defending-champions-athlone-town-off-to-winning-start-as-they-await-player-permits/



Athlone did, though, have to make do without three of their American players due to work permit issues when they opened the defence of their title with a 2-0 win over Wexford on Saturday – the hugely influential Madie Gibson and new recruits Natalie McNally and Katherine Sullivan.

“Athlone Town have signed four players on professional contracts that require work permits,” club secretary David Dully explained. “So far, we have received one permit and are still awaiting the remaining three to be issued.

“Contrary to some reports, the FAI is not refusing to register the players. Registration can only be completed once the necessary work permits are in place, and the FAI have supported the club’s application process.”

“Last season we required a work permit for Brenda Tabe and it took months to complete the process before we could finalise her registration and she could play for the club. We are hopeful that this application process will be complete this week.”

[Elfman]

The 'Critical Skills Employment Permits' list certainly does not include anything for professional sports athletes but from the 'General Employment Permit' and the 'Ineligible List of Occupations for employment permits' list I can't see anything that excludes professional sports athletes so I am assuming all four will have to qualify for the 'General Employment Permit' thus all four if approved will have to be paid a minimum salary of 34k (!)

I'm afraid I took the Sports and Fitness jobs (SOC-3, 344) that I referenced above from the very same "Ineligible List of Occupations for employment permits" so I doubt it.

Always possible they've found a way around it but initial impressions wouldn't be great.

[Strongbow10]

Dan McDonnell reporting Athlone about to be taken over by some Canadian business man and they want Ruairi Higgins to take the job

[Nesta99]

Undermining the current stup even if under performing. Even if a new owner came in and appointed a new manager tomorrow they are limited to an existing squad, Higgins does the 'my squad' so that'd take 2 transfer windows really. He'd be dropping a level so would have to be a longer term project. Name dropping a high profile manager sound like a bit of a sweetner right now and a bit like Waterford, where is the benefit to a new owner unless its foundations up project. Its not like its the otlet for North American based players, men or women that the current or prior owners seemed to think!? All active interest interest in the league, especially outside the existing powerhouses is to be welcomed if due process is followed and committment is shown.... and fans not showing impatience at billionaire owners for short term dips under slighly unhinged chairmen that would move on so deep pockets walk on as requested to do. Wonder if the Dundalk owner is open to a takeover or is there some ego there too.

[EatYerGreens]

Dan McDonnell reporting Athlone about to be taken over by some Canadian business man and they want Ruairi Higgins to take the job

Surely Higgins would have bigger aspirations than Athlone? It's a hell of a step down from FAI Cup Finals and European football.

Would he not be a contender for the vacant Waterford role?

[pineapple stu]

Dan McDonnell reporting Athlone about to be taken over by some Canadian business man and they want Ruairi Higgins to take the job
Higgins is hardly likely to come cheap is he?

[Longfordian]

I have to say this recent flock of "investors" into First Division clubs in particular puzzles me. It's hard enough to make any kind of profit at the top of the Premier Division let alone in the First Division. Though if Athlone somehow got the crowds to come back they'd have potential.

[EatYerGreens]

I have to say this recent flock of "investors" into First Division clubs in particular puzzles me. It's hard enough to make any kind of profit at the top of the Premier Division let alone in the First Division. Though if Athlone somehow got the crowds to come back they'd have potential.

Potential for what though? It's a small town in the grand scheme of things - in the same population ballpark as Sligo and Letterkenny. That's not going to elevate them to the top of Irish football. It's unlikely even to ensure regular European football if they got promoted.

So you have to wonder what the investment play is with a club like Athlone. Unless its laundering overseas players to take advantage of the English market?

[Strongbow10]

Athlone is a place that will grow and grow in the next 10 years. Designated as the key regional growth centre for the midlands, there's definite potential, and most importantly it's not a place consumed by GAA either.

[D24Saint]

I have to say this recent flock of "investors" into First Division clubs in particular puzzles me. It's hard enough to make any kind of profit at the top of the Premier Division let alone in the First Division. Though if Athlone somehow got the crowds to come back they'd have potential.

Anything to do with corporate tax ? There has to be something behind the investments. Id be cynical that they are just for the love of the game.

[EatYerGreens]

Athlone is a place that will grow and grow in the next 10 years. Designated as the key regional growth centre for the midlands, there's definite potential, and most importantly it's not a place consumed by GAA either.

Designated to grow by 40% up to 2040 (from 2018 population). So it is planned to have a population of 28,000 in 15yrs time = still not thta big.

Sligo and Letterkenny are also regional gateway towns too btw, with the same 40% growth target. Yet I wouldn't say either of those offers the kind of potential in Irish football that investors will look for i.e. consistent Europe as a minimum.

Remember that every other urban area in the country is growing quickly too - with Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford on a target of 50% expansion by 2040. So the size gap between all the cities and towns like Athlone will only have widened by then. And with it presumably the gap between them in Irish football.

[Longfordian]

Anything to do with corporate tax ? There has to be something behind the investments. Id be cynical that they are just for the love of the game.

Some of them might just like the idea of owning a group of clubs and/or think that's the way for their principal club to grow. You can't write off any football related losses against your corporate tax for another club or business as far as I'm aware. Maybe they think they can grow the club to some degree and sell it on again. The most genuine seems to be the fella that put money into Kerry. Basically he said he couid afford it and he wants to do something good for Kerry. He wasn't expecting much of a return.

[JC_GUFC]

Anything to do with corporate tax ? There has to be something behind the investments. Id be cynical that they are just for the love of the game.

I'd wonder if it's to do with the lack of any serious supporter base.

Taking over a club that's averaging 3/4k attendances per match there is likely to be a certain level of opposition. With a club who've been struggling and crowds of 3/400 any investment would generally be welcomed.

[Nesta99]

The key to investment in LoI, whatever you do make sure nobody is watching!