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Variety Of Experience And Local Knowledge Key Traits For New Athlone Town Boss

Tuesday, 2 November 2021 13:04

That's according to former Athlone Town defender Brian McCarthy.

With Paul Doolin having confirmed his departure from Athlone Town all eyes now turn to potential successors. 

Will the club look locally or make another splash in their attempt to climb the First Division table next season? 

Ian Morris leaving Shelbourne might grab the club's attention while the exploits of another ex-Athlone player Tommy Barrett will Treaty United this season shouldn't go un-noticed. 

There's no doubt a number of names will be touted in the coming weeks as the club set out their stall for the 2022 season. 

Defender Brian McCarthy who enjoyed three spells with the club gave us his thoughts on his tenure and where the club could look next: 

It was an exciting announcement when he got the job in late August and to get someone pf Paul's stature down in Athlone was something of a coup.

They have a good blend of youth, local and players from outside the club and Dublin in particular. I just thought it was a good move from the club to get someone with that experience.

He's obviously done very well previously with the likes of Drogheda in the mid 2000's winning leagues and FAI Cups and a Setanta Cup as well. 

He had the pedigree but from an Athlone point of view it just didn't really play out. His record was a mixed bag but it'll be interesting to hear his take on the insights and on-goings at the club. 

It's always difficult because we would have seen over the years with Mickey O'Connor, Brendan Place, Roddy Collins and Michael Curley it seems like they go through theses cycles of going local and having local players. 

The talent is there in the CCFL clubs but they need to be nurtured.

The youth set up is quite good at the moment. They have teams from U14 up but there has to be a goal of progression through those squads to the first team. 

Is that goal to lineout for the first team for them? It absolutely should be. 

From a managerial point of view id like someone with experience.

Someone like Tommy Barrett, a former Athlone player who's done so well with Treaty United this season. Knows the town, knows the people in the club and the set up but also has experience in a variety of roles. 

Even you look at Tommy Hewitt, who has done very well in his setup with the women's team since he took over. The big thing for me is someone who knows the town and club. 

If the funds are there...then go and get someone with plenty of League of Ireland Premier Division experience or First Division experience and surround them with local people on the staff who can help them in a number of ways. 

You look at what Galway have done under John Caufield. They started off slowly but finished up not far behind Shels and Ian Morris. 

There's a number of different profiles of managers around the league but if the funds are there within the club to invest in a manager who's won the division or been over a team at a higher level then they should absolutely go and do that. 

But there also has to be an element of local knowledge either leading the staff or part of it, I always think its hard for a whole team of staff to come in from the outside and capture the spirit of the town and get them behind the team. 

 

 

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