Athlone. What deaf huck is going on

**Battery Rover** · 01/05/2018, 10:02 PM

Callaghan gone this time by the looks of it underage manager Mick Dolan to take over.

**KeepersBall** · 02/05/2018, 5:51 PM

This pretty much says it all

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breaki...er-840572.html

**marinobohs** · 03/05/2018, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by KeepersBall

This pretty much says it all

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breaki...er-840572.html

Truly shocking situation in Athlone. is there any stage at which Delaneys Donkeys (AKA FAI) actually do their job and insist on managing the League ? Licencing is a complete and utter joke but the reputational damage this sort of fiasco does for the League should galvanise the slumbering 'authorities' in Abbottstown.

**WoodquayBoy** · 03/05/2018, 5:10 PM

He’s not coming back any time soon either - FAI just hit him with a 6 month ban!!!
https://mailer.fai.ie/index.php?opti...401&format=raw

**Longfordian** · 03/05/2018, 5:12 PM

He was never the best at controlling his temper but that’s just stupid behaviour.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 03/05/2018, 5:52 PM

What happened there exactly? He threatened refs while already banned?

**Lim till i die** · 03/05/2018, 5:53 PM

Couldn't happen to a nicer bloke.

Whinging on about professionalism in the meeja then because it turned out the latest carcass he was picking hadn't any meat left on it.

**Lim till i die** · 03/05/2018, 5:55 PM

Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter

What happened there exactly? He threatened refs while already banned?

Have you not seen him in action on the sideline?

Aaron is just a really hard man. Tough as nails.

Or he's a jester who can't conduct himself.

Depends on your point of view I suppose.

**JC_GUFC** · 08/05/2018, 8:12 AM

Having been to Athlone’s new ground on Friday it’s a real shame the mess the club is in off the pitch.
The stand is one of the best in the league in either division and the facilities are decent with even more potential to develop.

I’m all for developing underage structures but what’s happening on the pitch is a bit of a joke. There was some talent in the tram but they just looked like a bunch of junior footballers thrown together but having never trained together. The best of Willow Park or St Peter’s would be better and at least represent the town.

Hopefully the new manager can at least start to build something, it really looked like Aaron Callaghan had no clue what he was at.

Maybe the plan is to get through this season and start again next season and hopefully by then the off-field problems can be solved.

**Terry** · 08/05/2018, 8:44 AM

Originally Posted by JC_GUFC

Having been to Athlone’s new ground on Friday it’s a real shame the mess the club is in off the pitch.
The stand is one of the best in the league in either division and the facilities are decent with even more potential to develop.

You do know that ground was built 11 years ago now? I wouldn't class it as new, but is nice.

**Nesta99** · 08/05/2018, 1:37 PM

They had the debt of building it cleared also didnt they?

**Guitd** · 08/05/2018, 1:59 PM

Was also told that a new 4g allweather is to be laid in the coming weeks replacing the grass pitch which has has no maintenance for over a year and is in poor condition .

**sbgawa** · 08/05/2018, 2:07 PM

Another 4G pitch.
Its def the right approach from a cost and usage perspective but that's Derry , Dundalk, (bohs and Shels if Dalymount happens) plus Athlone ..........that's 25% of the clubs in the league

**mcgonigle** · 08/05/2018, 3:00 PM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

Another 4G pitch.
Its def the right approach from a cost and usage perspective but that's Derry , Dundalk, (bohs and Shels if Dalymount happens) plus Athlone ..........that's 25% of the clubs in the league

Maintaining a 4G pitch is not cheap if done properly. Like them or loath them at least they bring some level of consistency. There are too many poor grass surfaces in this league and it is accepted. The playing surface is right up there with players ability as the most important way to improve the product but is regularly overlooked

**nigel-harps1954** · 08/05/2018, 5:53 PM

Their 4G pitch is to be the training pitch though behind the goal to the right of the stand as far as I know. The main pitch is staying as a grass surface.

**Guitd** · 08/05/2018, 7:36 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Their 4G pitch is to be the training pitch though behind the goal to the right of the stand as far as I know. The main pitch is staying as a grass surface.

No its defo the main pitch as I was talking to an Athlone offical about the poor condition of main pitch ,said thay have not spent anything on it because its been replaced with a 4g in a few weeks .

**outspoken** · 08/05/2018, 8:37 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Their 4G pitch is to be the training pitch though behind the goal to the right of the stand as far as I know. The main pitch is staying as a grass surface.

That was my understanding also.

**nigel-harps1954** · 08/05/2018, 9:23 PM

Originally Posted by Guitd

No its defo the main pitch as I was talking to an Athlone offical about the poor condition of main pitch ,said thay have not spent anything on it because its been replaced with a 4g in a few weeks .

https://www.irishexaminer.com/irelan...nt-458006.html

"Athlone Town soccer club can now draw down a €200,000 government grant for a proposed new astro-turf training pitch, following an agreement in the High Court."

**Guitd** · 08/05/2018, 9:46 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

https://www.irishexaminer.com/irelan...nt-458006.html

"Athlone Town soccer club can now draw down a €200,000 government grant for a proposed new astro-turf training pitch, following an agreement in the High Court."

yep thats true and stadium will be used for training as well