Season Preview 2014 - Athlone Town

Manager: Mick Cooke

Stadium: Athlone Town Stadium

Players In: Alan Byrne (Drogheda United), Derek Prendergast (Drogheda United), Sean Brennan (Shelbourne). Jason Marks (Drogheda United), John Mulroy (Bray Wanderers), Graham Rusk (Drogheda United), Kealan Dillon (St. Mirren)

Players Out: Roddy Collins Jnr (Derry City), Garvan Broughall, Mark Hughes.

Extratime.ie Key Man: Phillip Gorman

The former Shelbourne striker’s seventeen goals in last season’s campaign helped Athlone gain promotion as First Division champions and the Lissywoollen faithful will be hoping that the Kildare man can get close to that again this season, though Premier league defences will prove a much tougher nut to crack. His ability to hold the ball up, run the channels, and generally be a nuisance to the opposition defenders - and, of course, find the back of the net - will go a  long way to determining whether Athlone can compete in this division.

Extratime.ie One to Watch: Kealan Dillon

The nineteen year old played with Hulls City's development squad and appeared for the club's reserve team but was released in May 2013. A month later he joined Scottish Premier League side St Mirren and made the move to the midlands in January of this year. Kealan has been capped for Ireland at U/19 and U/17 level and with his quality could prove a valuable addition to the squad.

How they did last season:

League: First Division Champions

FAI Cup: Second Round

EA Sports Cup: First Round

Top League Goalscorer: Phillip Gorman - 17 goals

What to expect for next season:

Few, apart from Roddy Collins, would have predicted Athlone’s emphatic title triumph and subsequent automatic promotion so early in the charismatic Dubliner’s tenure and, as such, the squad was light on top flight experience and quality. New manager Mick Cooke has gone some way to remedying that situation with an influx of players with Premier Division experience. It will be a steep learning curve for all concerned as these players gel with the existing squad while under the intense pressure of competing in their new environs. Most of the incoming players have played under the manager on previous occasions so they will be used to his methods and this can only be of benefit to the side. Whether it will be enough only time will tell but after almost twenty years in the second tier Athlone Town fans will relish the opportunity to find out. 

Title Odds: 150/1 (Best odds)

First Game: vs Sligo Rovers (The Showgrounds - 7-45 Sat 8th March 2014)