Place hopeful that McGee will sign new deal with Athlone

ATHLONE Town manager Brendan Place hopes to see striker Noel McGee pen a new deal with the club later this week. McGee (22), who top-scored with 12 goals for Athlone last season, has been engaged in pre-season training with the Town squad over recent weeks, but has, of yet, failed to agree terms to extend his career with his home town club. McGee got his first pre-season goal during last Thursday's 2-2 draw with Newbridge Town, with new signing Gordon Watson notching the other, but there has been speculation locally that McGee might be open to the idea of joining another League of Ireland club. However, Place is adamant that McGee has a future with Athlone. "I've spoken with Noel on a few occasions since pre-season started and he knows we want him here. Noel managed a good return in terms of goals last season and I'd hope to see him sign a new contract within the next few days. I think a deal is close on that one," Place said. Meanwhile, Place says a deal to sign ex-Shelbourne defender Alan Keely is now unlikely. However, Place hopes to complete the signing of a midfield player over the next few days, with Gareth Kenna a confirmed target. Kenna is a left-footed midfield player who plays preferably in the middle of the park, and has most recently played in the Leinster Senior League for Dublin Bus. Place, who plans to take in Willow Park's FAI Junior Cup clash against Orchard in Dublin this weekend, also confirmed that the absence of new signing David Bracken during Athlone's recent pre-season games is due to an ankle injury. "David has been extremely unlucky during pre-season. He went over on his ankle early on in pre-season and although he did the warm-up against Bohemians, he went over on the ankle again. We just want to be careful with David at the moment but I'd still expect him to feature in our remaining pre-season friendlies," said Place, who also confirmed that Kevin Williamson has agreed to rejoin the club. Athlone's two remaining pre-season games are against Drogheda Utd this coming Saturday and then away to Tullamore Town at Leah Victoria Park on February 26 (1pm). Sandwiched in between those games is the opening round of the Leinster Senior Cup against Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds on February 25 (7.45pm). Place said he will be taking the Leinster Senior Cup very seriously. "I won the competition as a player with Athlone, beating a very good St Pat's side in the final, and I'll be hammering it home to the players that this is a serious competition. We want to go as far as possible in every competition we enter," said Place. He added: "I'm very pleased with the way pre-season is going. There are still some areas of the squad which are unbalanced and we're trying to rectify that before the start of the season. There are still a few players in my mind but we'll just have to wait and see what happens in the next few weeks." Meanwhile, Athlone Town were officially informed by the Club Licensing committee that they had achieved all criteria for a First Division license for the season 2010.