Brett takes on head coach role with Athlone Town women
Athlone Town AFC has announced the appointment of Gordon Brett as head coach with the club’s senior women’s squad for the upcoming season.
Brett had a brief spell as manager of the Athlone Town men’s team in the 2023 season, but that was just one chapter in the Coosan native’s lengthy spell of involvement with his home town club.
With Athlone Town preparing to defend the Women’s Premier Division crown, this is an exciting time for the women’s squad and Brett will work alongside team manager Colin Fortune in the 2025 season. Athlone can also look forward to representing Ireland in the Women’s Champions League next summer.
A former Athlone Town player, Brett is entering his seventh season coaching at the club. He has coached Athlone Town U13, U14, U15, U16 and U17 academy teams.
Brett had a previous stint as assistant manager of Athlone’s senior men in 2007 and was U21 manager in 2004. He was Dermot Lennon’s head coach in 2022 and 2023 but was also manager outright of the senior men for a spell in the 2023 season.
Having also played in the League of Ireland for Galway United, Brett holds a UEFA ‘A’ coaching licence and he works as Sport & Recreation Manager with Technological University of the Shannon Midlands Campus in Athlone.
Speaking about the appointment of Brett, Colin Fortune said: “I’m absolutely delighted to get Gordon on board this season. Gordon is a top quality coach and will bring a wealth of experience to this group. He has all the qualities and characteristics that I admire in a coach and a person, and his work ethic and attention to detail is second to none.”
“At this level, you need to surround yourself with people you can trust and that you know will be as hard working as yourself. He thinks about the game in the same way as I do. A lot of his philosophies would align well with my own.
“Gordon is a straight talker and won’t be afraid to voice his opinions. He will be a really good foil for myself, he’ll be great in and around the dressing room and more importantly his delivery of coaching sessions will be of top quality,” added Fortune, who is also a former Athlone Town player and men’s team manager.