McGee and Dunne depart Athlone Town
ATHLONE Town have this week parted company with three of their squad, with last season's top scorer Noel McGee the biggest name departure.
McGee is joined through the exit door by another promising local player in Kevin Dunne, who has played over 20 games for the club at either centre-back or centre-midfield since breaking into the first-team squad in late 2008.
Dunne, a student at UCD, particularly impressed in a recent league game against Shelbourne at Lissywoollen, when his defensive midfield ability allowed him to deputise for the vastly experienced Stephen Caffrey, who was suspended for that match.
Also leaving the club is Dublin-based left-back Brendan Turley, who failed to break into the first-team since signing from Shelbourne at the start of the season.
It's McGee's departure, though, that will ignite most discussion among Athlone supporters, although he has struggled to make an impact on the first-team this season, making only his first start of the campaign in last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Wexford Youths at Ferrycarrig Park.
The 22-year-old has made over 100 appearances for Athlone since making his debut in 2008, and netted an impressive 12 goals last season, despite suffering injuries and been in and out of the starting team.
McGee has fallen behind the likes of Robbie Farrell and Austin Skelly in the pecking order this season, and only signed a contract to stay with the club a week before the 2010 season began in March.
Speaking about McGee's departure, manager Brendan Place said: "I don't think it's beneficial for me to go into too much detail about any of the departures, but I have been trying to get a fully committed dressing-room, and I feel I have that now. Noel and Kevin couldn't fully commit to the cause, for different reasons, and we feel it's best to part company with both lads. We wish them the very best with whatever path they choose to take in the future."
With midfielder Gareth Kenna likely to be sidelined for up to a month with a knee injury, and forward Austin Skelly also struggling with a groin problem, which is expected to keep him out of Saturday's home game against Limerick (7.30pm), Place's options in both departments will be significantly reduced.
However, the Town manager expects to sign a handful of new players when the transfer window reopens on July 1.
"I'm very happy with the squad of players we have at the moment," said Place.
"We can't hold onto players who can't fully commit, that's the bottom line. I think the squad has moved up a level in terms of professionalism and commitment this season, and we need to keep things right in that respect," he added.
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