Ryan believes this season is ‘a new dawn’ for Athlone Town
Athlone Town's First Division season will kick off at home tonight (Friday) when Finn Harps make the long journey to the Midlands from Donegal. The Town endured a torrid time in 2025 as they finished bottom of the First Division table with Ian Ryan unable to stop the rot after being appointed as manager during the campaign.
However, Ryan is more optimistic heading into a new season as he spoke to the Westmeath Independent at the launch of the 2026 League of Ireland season in Dublin recently.
Q - With an almost complete change on the playing front, did you feel this was needed to put your own stamp on the squad?
“Yes, I think so. There was a lot of thinking, lot of planning, lot of strategy in who we wanted to bring in the door. I think the club from a playing staff point of view needed to reset and we are really happy with where we are now. We retained three senior players and a new group that we are happy with, a group that are hungry and will look to put their own stamp on things.”
Q - What are the expectations for the new season?
“I don’t think we are going to pin ourselves to something specific, obviously we want a big improvement on what we finished with last year. I think I will be no different from any other manager - we will aim to get into the play-offs and see where that takes us.”
Q - On trying to get his first league win as manager?
“Yeah, it’s important just to get the win, to start well, and what we need to do is get a level of performance. We need to get our strongest eleven on the pitch and I think when we do that, we can compete with anyone in the league.”
Q - On the lessons to be learned from last season?
“There’s been a hell of a lot of work going on behind the scenes. People probably only see the exterior of that but a lot of work, effort and planning and of course learnings for us to do so that we don’t put ourselves in that situation again. It’s a new dawn, a new era if you want, for the club and we have got the opportunity to change the perception of a football club and generate interest throughout the town. That’s our aim really overall.”
Q - Why do you think Athlone struggled last season?
“That’s not for me to get into really. I came in late, there was well documented problems throughout the club so that is not for me to get involved in. I can only control what we can control and from here on in, we want a new Athlone. We want people to be excited by it, to look forward to the games with an exciting team. We look forward to the future.”
Q - On preparations for the new season?
“They have gone okay. The ultimate goal for pre-season is to make sure that we have everyone available for the first day of the season so that’s going according to plan. It also gave us a chance to see a lot of the younger players.
“We played against two full time Premier Division teams in the Leinster Senior Cup (Dundalk and Shelbourne) with lots of experienced players. Breaking down the games, they were competitive up until we made our changes and take off our senior players. That’s a lesson for our younger players to play against that calibre, but it’s also some sort of reality to know where we are and the depth of squad we have.”
Q - Was it difficult to encourage players to join a First Division team that finished bottom?
“Yes it was and that’s the honesty of it. There’s a reputation that the club have and that’s hard to attract players. What we are telling them is about a plan and a vision but that’s just words to some. We are really pleased with some of the senior marquee players that we were able to secure. They believe in what we are doing and now it’s about putting it into action.
“I have been in the League a long time so was fully aware of the problems. I am there because of the new people involved and I wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t the case and I took over the job working for really good people that are ambitious, who want to do things properly, treat people well and that’s what we want really. The ultimate goal we have is a proper football club long term. It’s not a case that we are going to go bust this year to make sure we go up and then be down the following year. This is a gradual process that will be built over time so hopefully people will see that. It’s not going to be a magic wand at the same time.”
Q - What teams likely to challenge for the title and promotion?
“Can’t look too far beyond Cork City, the qualities they have, the full time nature. You also have teams that are really competitive over the last couple of years like Cobh Ramblers and UCD ending up in the play-offs. Kerry have strengthened really well. Everyone else is saying the same as me that they want to be competitive and try and get into the play-offs”.
*See here for interview with Athlone Town captain Brendan Clarke.