Athlone Town have this evening announced the re-appointment of former manager Roddy Collins. Collins had been rumoured to be returning to the club since the departure of Ricardo Monsanto.
The club released the following statement;
The board of Athlone Town AFC would like to welcome back Roddy Collins as the club’s first team manager.
Roddy will be in charge for the remainder of the 2017 First Division season.
Roddy, who needs no introduction to anyone in Irish football, takes the reigns in succession to Ricardo Monsanto.
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 1980’s.
Roddy will not take charge of Athlone Town’s game away to Shelbourne this Friday night (May 12th).
The interim management team led by Ricardo Cravo will remain in place for that fixture.
All things going to plan Roddy will be in the Athlone dugout for the game against Cabinteely on May 19th next.
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 and management committee wishes to thank the many people who have both publicly and privately supported the club during this difficult period.
The board notes what has been published about the club, individual Athlone Town AFC players, coaches and officials in the media and on other forums.
The club will deal with many of these issues and the questions raised as soon as the investigatory process has been completed and when we are in full possession of all the relevant facts and information concerning these allegations.
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.