Athlone Town releases statement on future of Carberry

The board of Athlone Town AFC has released a statement on the position of head coach Adrian Carberry.

In the statement, the board put on record its "continued support for and confidence in" men's team head coach Carberry.

"The club's board has become aware of rumours, and speculation from third parties, following some recent poor results in the First Division, that it intends to replace our former player Adrian as the team's head coach," said the statement.

"The club shares the collective disappointment around the town that we are not further up the table after such a promising start.

"However, we would like to make it clear that the club has no intention of changing our head coach, and has full confidence that Adrian and the players can turn things around," the statement continued.

"Since the start of the current season the club has made extensive playing resources available, by recruiting a competitive squad of players, with the aim of gaining promotion to the Premier Division.

"In addition, we have strengthened the squad during the current transfer window. In light of the quality we now have in what is an extremely close division, we are confident we can get back to winning ways.

"We believe that recent lost ground can be made up, and that we can at least make the end of season play-offs."

"With Covid-19 restrictions lifting, we also hope that more and more supporters will return to Athlone Town AFC Stadium and get behind the team in our bid for promotion," the statement added.

Athlone suffered a heavy defeat to Limerick outfit Treaty United last Friday night (4-1).

The midlanders are currently in sixth place on the SSE Airtricity First Division table, five points behind fifth-placed Bray Wanderers.

The teams which finish from second to fifth will qualify for the promotion play-offs, so Athlone still have hopes of making the play-offs.

Those four teams will play in two semi-finals and the winner of the First Division play-off final will then face the ninth-placed Premier Division team in the ultimate promotion/relegation play-off.

The team who finishes top of the First Division will be automatically promoted to the Premier Division. Shelbourne are the current leaders with an unbeaten record.