Sudden Managerial Change at Athlone Town

Athlone Town Women’s Football Club is navigating a period of transition following the unexpected resignation of manager tommy Fortune over the weekend. John Sullivan has been appointed as interim ⁤manager for the remainder of the season, as reported by RTÉ Sport on September 9, 2025.

Fortune’s departure stemmed from concerns about a lack of ⁤support from the club, including the absence of a new ⁣contract offer before the conclusion of the current campaign. ⁢This timing presents a notable challenge as⁣ Athlone prepares for a crucial match against Glasgow City.

Player Response and Focus on glasgow City

Midfielder Jenna Rice, who joined Athlone Town in June, acknowledged the ⁣surprise surrounding Fortune’s resignation but emphasized the team’s determination to move forward. “I think everybody was a bit surprised with the news, but things happen in football like that so we have to take ⁤it and move on and focus on Glasgow,” Rice stated, according to RTÉ Sport.

Rice stressed the importance of team unity and maintaining their established playing style. “Obviously things like that are going to be a big shift, but‍ we’re really just focused on our next game, playing our best, staying together as a team and continuing to play ⁣the way that we play and navigating that challenge ‍together.”

European Competition and Team Growth

Athlone Town ⁢is currently participating in European competition, ⁢having played four games thus far. Rice highlighted the meaning ⁤of representing Irish football on an ‍elite stage. “We’re super excited to be representing the league and ‍to keep our historic run going,” she said.

She also noted the team’s ongoing development sence her arrival in June. “I got here in June and I’ve seen growth with the team. We’re getting better each game, ⁤taking each game what we can work on. we’re getting lots of great opportunities to play other⁣ teams in different competitions,so the team is adapting to that and growing ⁣all of the time.”

the team views‍ these ⁤opportunities as valuable experiences for testing their abilities against strong opposition. “this is another chance to show ourselves,‍ keep playing ⁤well and test ourselves against a really good side.”