Muldoon appointed

FORMER Athlone Town defender Colm Muldoon has been appointed the club"s new under-20 manager. Muldoon, who featured under Michael O"Connor in the early and mid-nineties, was officially announced as the under-20s new coach last midweek and takes charge on an initial three-month basis. The league campaign for the under-20s is due to begin on Saturday, July 4. At time of print, a trial match for potential under-20 signings was due to take place at Lissywoollen last night (Tuesday, May 19). Muldoon has done some coaching with Athlone"s senior team in the past and is renowned for an emphasis on good fitness among players. Colm holds a current UEFA A Licence and has extensive experience having coached in the United States with Troup Titans Soccer Club (Georgia) and the Eurotech Soccer Camp in Virginia. He also holds numerous other qualifications from fitness to sports safety and currently works as a fitness instructor in the Radisson SAS in Athlone. Muldoon"s appointment has been rubber-stamped by first-team manager Brendan Place and he is looking forward to the challenges ahead. Muldoon said: 'I felt this was a good opportunity I had to accept. As a coach, I feel I can make a contribution to the development of young players at the club. The under-20 situation has been up in the air at the club in recent years, so it"s very important we get it right and get it back on track.' He added: 'I hope the club provides me with the right support system because it has to be acknowledged that the under-20s is vitally important as a follow-through pathway from the under-17s. The club only has to look at the progression of the likes of Robbie Hamm, Anthony Hayes, Noel McGee and others, to see the benefit of a vibrant and healthy under-20 set-up. It"s a three-month scenario and then we"ll take it from there.'