Relief for Lennon as Athlone secure league status

STRUGGLING Athlone Town finally secured their League of Ireland status for another season, thanks to a single goal victory over fellow basement battlers Wexford Youths last Saturday. With just two games remaining in the league - and with one of those away to promotion contenders Dundalk on Thursday - Athlone were desperate to claim the three points which would ensure their safety against Wexford. In the end, Robbie Hamm"s 70th minute goal proved enough and Athlone can now breath easier during the final few weeks of what has been a season of major struggle. Speaking after last weekend"s win, manager Dermot Lennon admitted his players - particularly the younger ones - had been feeling the pressure in recent weeks as they bid to ensure the club"s league status. 'This club has been in the League of Ireland for a long time, it has a very good history, and the burden of trying to keep the club afloat took its toll on a few of the players in recent weeks. Nobody would want to be associated with a team that takes Athlone Town out of League of Ireland football and it"s a major relief to ensure our safety with two games remaining. Some of the younger players felt under pressure in recent weeks, they were very nervous, and you could tell that in our performance against Wexford. We didn"t play particularly well but the most important thing was to get three points and ensure our safety. Apart from the younger players, the more experience lads wouldn"t want to be part of a relegated team either,' said Lennon. With the club in a period of real financial instability and with players going unpaid for a lengthy period (the players were paid last weekend), there have been lots of rumours regarding the club"s future, with many people suggesting the playing budget will be sliced even further next year. There have even been some suggestions that the club could go all-amateur next year - but Dermot Lennon said this will not work. 'I haven"t been able to speak to the board about next season yet,' said Lennon. 'In fairness, they have been very busy trying to sort out the financial situation. And my main focus in recent weeks has been on trying to ensure our future in the league. There are huge financial issues at the club. I operated off a very low budget this season, we thought it would help stabilise the club, but it hasn"t really worked. I honestly don"t know what next season holds for the club. We have a fair few good young players and they will improve because of the experience gained this season, but I don"t agree with suggestions the club should go all-amateur. Players aren"t going to travel for nothing. How can you expect a player to get off work on a Thursday to travel to Dundalk - and then get paid nothing! It doesn"t work that way.' Athlone have two games remaining in this season"s First Division, the first of which is away to Dundalk at Oriel Park on Thursday (kick-off: 7.45pm). The final game takes place on Saturday week against local rivals Longford Town at Lissywoollen.