BREAKING: FAI statement on Athlone Town FC

The FAI has ordered an 'independent interim review' of Athlone Town FC, in the wake of the club failing to fulfil its fixture with Waterford United on Friday night.

The FAI said an independent person appointed by its board would meet with the relevant stakeholders in Athlone Town FC 'to discuss recent issues and the long-term future of the club'.

The statement said the independent review had been ordered following a meeting between SSE Airtricity League Director Fran Gavin, league chairman Eamon Naughton and representatives of the club over the weekend.

The independent person will meet with the chairman, board members, management and players, as well as supporters groups and potential investors.

The findings of the review will then be presented to the FAI.

The FAI statement this evening comes in the wake of the club's failure to field a team for a First Division league game in Waterford on Friday night.

The club, in a statement posted on its website on Friday night, said it had been unable to field a team for the game against Waterford 'due to the unavailability of a number of players'.

It said it had only learned of the situation mid afternoon.

The statement continued: 'The current uncertainty off the field is adversely affecting the moral of all parties and requires immediate positive action by all interested parties.

'We now have set a deadline of close of business next Tuesday for those parties in possession of plans for the club to go forward to submit them for consideration. After that date such action as is necessary will be taken by the present board.'

A public meeting held recently by the club heard that a group would be interested in taking the helm at the club, if the current board stood down.

In response to the Waterford fixture cancellation, the FAI's Fran Gavin said on Friday: '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.'