Published: Friday, 31st October, 2008 12:00pm

Town to appeal FAI Penalties

ATHLONE Town are this week preparing to launch an official appeal against the FAI Disciplinary Committee"s decision to deduct the club a point in the First Division and fine them €2,500.

The Town unknowingly fielded an unregistered player during their 0-0 draw with Waterford Utd in early October and were handed the penalties late last week.

However, speaking after last Friday"s scoreless draw against Limerick, club officials confirmed the club will be lodging an appeal against the decision this week.

A high ranking club spokesperson said: 'The club feels it has sufficient grounds for appeal and will be appealing against the point deduction and the severity of the fine. The appeal will be lodged by Thursday.'

First-team manager Dermot Lennon added: 'I fully believe the case should be appealed and that we are right. Hopefully, the league will see sense. We have the full support of many other First Division clubs.'

The decision to contest the punishment will cost Athlone Town €500.

The decision to deduct Athlone a point leaves them six points ahead of bottom placed Kildare County, with four games remaining in this year"s First Division.

Kildare, meanwhile, are under new management this week after John Ryan resigned following their 2-0 defeat to Sporting Fingal last weekend. Former Shamrock Rovers forward and Galway Utd manager Tony Cousins will now take the reins for the last few matches.

Dermot Lennon was satisfied to take a share of the spoils home from Limerick last Friday in a game which saw the return of youngster Ian Coffey to the first-team fold.

Coffey had earlier in the season signalled his intention to quit the club but, following a series of excellent displays in recent weeks for the under-20s, he was promoted back to the senior squad on Friday.

Lennon said: 'Ian Coffey has been doing brilliantly in recent weeks for the under-20s and perhaps he just needed to recharge his batteries a bit away from the pressures of playing for the first-team. He scored three goals in three games for the under-20s and we need all the talented young players we can get. I spoke to Ian last week and told him I"d love to have him back in the first-team set-up. There was no pressure on him but he came back and did very well against Limerick. He is a talented lad and it"s great to have him back involved with the senior side.'

Goalkeeper Ciaran Kelly continued his recent good form against Limerick on Friday and was undoubtedly Athlone"s star performer.

Lennon said: 'Ciaran has been great for us and when you consider he played much of the season with an injury, he"s had a very good campaign.'

To add to Athlone"s financial woes, the club was also fined the combined sum of €125 last week for disciplinary purposes.

Robbie Hamm has been suspended for two competitive matches and fined €50 as a result of having been sent off against Shelbourne on October 11, while midfielder Anthony Hayes has been suspended for one competitive match and fined €25 as a result of reaching four penalty points.

Two under-20 players, John McCrossan and Simon Lawless, have also been suspended for one under-20 league match and fined €25 as a result of having been sent off in a recent game against St Patrick"s Athletic.

(For more on Athlone Town"s current financial problems, see back page).