Portuguese investor for Athlone Town FC?

There is mounting speculation this week that Athlone Town is on the verge of securing major financial investment from Portugal.

The Westmeath Independent understands that a Portuguese investor who is involved with a portfolio of clubs around the world, including in China and his native Portugal, is poised to play a key role in club operations from this season onwards. The investor wishes to remain anonymous at this stage.

It appears that his involvement in the club will see a number of foreign players from different European countries playing for Athlone in the upcoming 2017 SSE Airtricity League First Division campaign.

Although the club has not officially commented on the mooted investment, it's understood that it is not an outright takeover of the club and won't significantly alter the present make-up of the club committee.

* For more on this story, see this week's Westmeath Independent