Athlone football club saved by supporters
Tuesday January 06 2009
THE future of one League of Ireland football club was saved last night but the fate of two others hangs in the balance.
Supporters of Athlone Town have signed up to a patron scheme to clear the 122-year-old club's debts, which are understood to be approximately €300,000. The club remains in a "precarious" financial position because of a slump in advertising revenue for next season but 200 supporters will hand over money each week in an attempt to keep it afloat.
In Donegal, Finn Harps also has debts of €300,000 and needs to have raised at least half that by January 26 to satisfy creditors. A meeting was taking place in Ballybofey late last night.
And in Louth, officials at Drogheda United were last night meeting playing staff with the 2007 champions thought to be on the brink of extinction as it attempts to service debts of €500,000 by next week.
But it was better news in Westmeath last night as 200 supporters agreed to hand over €10 a week in a make-or-break scheme for Athlone Town. This is 50pc of the club's target of 400 subscriptions, which it needs to pay off its liabilities.
"The initial response was very good. Even before Christmas there was a good number of people who had submitted their applications for the patron scheme, which is very encouraging," said club chairman Ashley Cahill.
"Everyone knows the club will be run with the new revenue so tough decisions have already been made. I'm optimistic now that we'll continue but there will be some pitfalls because of our finances with the team on the pitch. If you have less money, you have less that you can put out," he added.
Mr Cahill said the process would now begin of "rebuilding" Athlone Town.
"We can't be expected to win the league, we need to rebuild the strength of the club and hopefully if things are done right, it'll be easier."
- Eimear Ni Bhraonain
