Athlone Town FC move a step closer to survival

ATHLONE Town FC are this week edging closer to League of Ireland survival following a second public meeting to discuss the club"s ongoing financial struggles. An initial public meeting was held before Christmas when the club revealed net liabilities of over €300,000 and also announced an ambitious patrons scheme in a bid to safeguard the club"s future. At last Monday"s meeting, club officials told a well attended meeting in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel it has received 'fantastic support' for the initiative over recent weeks and has already received over 200 applications to the scheme, which involves supporters investing a minimum €10 per week over a two-year period or a full payment of €1,000 in return for various benefits. At Monday"s meeting, the club also unveiled a clear two-year plan entitled "Building for the Future - The Future Starts Here". The club will now step up its bid to raise 400 patrons for the scheme before the Annual General Meeting on Thursday, February 5. Meanwhile, supporters were also told the club envisages cutting playing costs for the 2009 season by a further 60 per cent, which roughly equates to a playing budget of €50,000 for the upcoming First Division season (or approximately €1,500 per week). see sport for story in full.