Sunderland plays the Good Samaritan in Athlone crisis

Premiership club Sunderland has offered to assist Athlone Town FC in finding a way out of the current financial crisis engulfing the club. Club official John Croughan, who was involved in running the Sunderland friendly earlier this year, was contacted by a representative of the club last week. Mr Croughan said Sunderland had acted on its own initiative in contacting Athlone and had offered to help in any way possible. The call came from a top level representative of the club who had become aware of Athlone"s predicament. The relationship between the clubs is believed to be very positive following last season"s friendly. It"s understood Sunderland has suggested that the expertise of its marketing department was available to advise Athlone on future promotional plans.