McGee believes he can revive struggling Athlone Town

FORMER Ireland international striker Paul McGee is convinced he has the drive and ambition to bring about a resurgence in the fortunes of struggling Athlone Town. McGee - who lives close by in Galway - is among several candidates to replace Dermot Lennon as Athlone"s new manager for the 2009 League of Ireland season. With an extensive playing and coaching CV behind him, McGee this week spoke to the "Westmeath Independent" about his genuine ambition to lift Athlone out of the doldrums. The former QPR, Crystal Palace and Preston player received a UEFA A coaching licence five years ago and coached at Premier Division Cork City last season. McGee has also worked at QPR and Crystal Palace"s youth academies, as well as playing a part in the development of young players at Salthill Devon in recent years. McGee says that, if given the responsibility of managing Athlone, he would put the emphasis on attracting the best young players from around the country to the club. He envisages developing closer links between the club and the local schoolboy league, and also running coaching camps and academies from Athlone Town"s Lissywoollen base. In terms of the first-team, it"s expected McGee would look to keep the local players from last season"s squad - the likes of Robbie Hamm, Anthony Hayes, Des Hope, Noel McGee and Carmine Russo - and look to freshen up the squad with some additions mainly from the west of Ireland. It"s thought McGee would possibly be prepared to release the more experienced members of last season"s squad. McGee said: 'There"s been a lot of doom and gloom around Athlone Town in recent years but it"s the true sleeping giant of Irish football. There is an enormous amount that can be done with the club in a relatively short space of time and I have detailed plans which I"ll put to the club when interviewed. 'I"m massively into football and it"s the challenge of reviving Athlone Town that excites me as a coach. I would have Padraig Moran beside me and Padraig is a true professional and has enormous enthusiasm to help turn around the club"s fortunes, too. Athlone has a massive catchment area and I would look to attract the best young kids to the club. I have plans to make that more realistic and attractive and will put them to the board during an interview. 'I don"t think the first-team squad needs radical change at Athlone. I would want a strong spine to my team and would look to play attractive attacking football. There"s a solid base to the Athlone squad and players of a good age. I believe I can get in there and motivate and organise the team and do well in the First Division.' McGee is one of a number of people to apply for the vacant Athlone job in recent weeks, with other leading candidates including former Town defender Conor Frawley, Gareth Cronin and Brendan Plaice. The club, however, have said they will not approach any potential new manager until the New Year, as they currently attempt to escape from their financial crisis.