ATHLONE TOWN HAVE confirmed Roddy Collins will manage the club for a second time with the Dubliner set to take charge of the First Division side until the end of the season.
Collins led the club to the First Division title in 2013 and has been out of football management since parting ways with Waterford United last October. The Dubliner fills the vacancy left by the departure of Ricardo Monsanto last month.
It has been a stormy few weeks for Athlone as they are currently at the centre of an FAI investigation following match-fixing allegations, coming as a result of suspicious betting patterns on international markets.
Collins is expected to be present in Tolka Park for Athlone’s First Division game against Shelbourne tomorrow night but won’t take the reins until the trip to Cabinteely a week later.
“The board of Athlone Town AFC would like to welcome back Roddy Collins as the club’s first-team manager,” a club statement reads.
“Roddy will be in charge for the remainder of the 2017 First Division season.
“Roddy’s connections with the club are well known. During his first spell managing the club Roddy led Athlone Town AFC to the First Division title in 2013. He also played for the club during the mid-1980s.
“No doubt all club supporters hope Roddy will be just as successful managing Athlone Town AFC this time around as he was four years ago.
“Roddy’s appointment comes following what has been a tumultuous time for the club. The board anxiously awaits the outcome of the FAI’s investigation into allegations Athlone Town AFC may have been involved in match-fixing.
“At this stage in the process the club can only repeat its call that parallel investigations into the claims be commenced by the Gardaí, Interpol/Europol and Uefa itself and that Athlone Town AFC is, and has always been, totally opposed to match-fixing.
“The board is very much aware of the long-term reputational damage the club has sustained since the allegations were put in the public domain.
“The board would like to remind everybody that as things currently stand no finding of wrongdoing has been made against anyone involved or associated with the club.”
Athlone currently sit sixth in the eight-team First Division, having won four and drawn one of their opening 11 league games.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
It must be so so hard on those poor players. Perhaps the astronomical wages might help. 200 or 300k a week might help the tiredness , maybe a weeks graft on a building site would help poor oul tired kev
@Chris Tobin:
I find it amazing to think there are still people out there who think wealthy people don’t suffer from fatigue or tiredness. The lad was simply answering a question.
@Nollaig Elliot: it must be very tiring deciding which sports car you will drive out of your garage to training the next day:p
@Nollaig Elliot: i never said he wasnt tired but it into context with us mere working mortals
De Bruyne is made of iron. Has been on the end of some horrific tackles all season but gets up and shoulders on. He’s been as impressive in defence as he has been in attack as well. His pressing and tackling has come on leaps. He’s been the second best player in the world this season. If he keeps up the form and lands a few trophies plus a good run with Belgium at the WC he’s got an outside shot at a Ballon D’Or.
@Leon: In the world!? You need to cancel your sky subscription
@Noel Ryan: He’s definitely top 5 at the moment. You won’t see De Bruyne diving that’s for sure, he just gets quietly gets on with business in every game without any extravagance, class player.
KDB is a class act. Both professionally and as a human. Rare commodity on today’s game. I hope Liverpool sign him.
@England’s Envy: could play CB better than Lovren
@Dave O Keeffe: Possibly, but never as good a CB as Lukaku lol.
@England’s Envy: you’re probably right, Liverpool have conceded 9 since VVD arrived, United have only conceded 2 in that time. 9 by the way is half of total united have conceded in the league all season
@Dave O Keeffe: Are you trying to convince me or yourself. How many have you scored. Watching United is like watching paint dry. Liverpool play best ball in Europe. By a distance. Nice tight defence last week by Jones and Co at Wembley.
@England’s Envy: we’ve scored 15, Liverpool have scored 14.
@Dave O Keeffe: sorry, that’s the other way around, Liverpool 15 United 14
Injuries didn’t restrict them to 6 players on the bench, could add an academy player, but no. And people say Mourinho doesn’t promote youth…
@No.: A lot of City’s academy is on loan in Spain or Netherlands at feeder clubs. Although ethically it’s probably off that City own other clubs so that they can grow their empire, giving players full seasons worth of experience compared to a few lousy minutes here and there is a no brainer. The rest of the actual academy at home played a game the night before the Burnley game. Nmecha, a lad from the academy was supposed to be the last name on the bench was injured. He also had two youth players on the bench already, Diaz and Tosin. A third of the bench for the top performing side in Europe all season was made up of youth players, hardly that bad now is it?
@No.: to be fair, their academy team played the night before the early Saturday kick off
No chance of Guardiola giving any of the academy players a chance no?
Hello I’m Mary Morgan Legitimate and reliable loan lender.I give out loans on a clear and understandable terms and conditions at 3% interest rate. From $8000 to $7000000 USD, Euro And Pounds Only. I give out Business Loans, Personal Loans, Student Loans,Car Loans And Loans To Pay Off Bills. If you need a loan what you have to do is for you to contact me directly immediately now at:( morganmary628@yahoo.com ) God Bless You.
morganmary628@yahoo.com Or Call 951 365-6183
Thank you