Athlone Town match off as players refuse to travel

Athlone Town's away league fixture against Waterford United this evening (Friday), has been called off, it has been confirmed.

Alan Mathews' side had been due to face Roddy Collins' Waterford in an Airtricity League First Division fixture in the RSC.

However, it's understood that 14 Athlone players made themselves unavailable to travel to Waterford due to a dispute over unpaid expenses.

When contacted a short time ago, Mathews told the Westmeath Independent: 'I'm deeply disappointed to find myself in this situation.'

In a brief statement this evening, the Waterford club said: 'Waterford United would like to confirm that the club have received official notification from the Football Association of Ireland that this evening's SSE Airtricity League of Ireland First Division game against Athlone Town has been postponed. The club will make further comment on this matter in due course'.

Meanwhile, SSE Airtricity League director Fran Gavin said:'We take this matter extremely seriously and will be charging Athlone for failing to fulfil the fixture and for bringing the game into disrepute.

To be notified on the afternoon of an SSE Airtricity League fixture that a club cannot field a team is simply not good enough'.

The FAI will meet with Athlone Town FC over the weekend to discuss what is described as a 'serious matter' in the statement.

A protest calling for a change of the local club's board has taken place outside Athlone Town's stadium at each of the last two home fixtures.