Athlone boss accuses hierarchy of 'interference" in parting shot

DEPARTING WORDS: Colin Fortune has expanded on his abrupt departure from Athlone Town women – accusing the hierarchy of “interference”.
Pic: Rico Brouwer/Sportsfile

Colin Fortune has expanded on his abrupt departure from Athlone Town women – accusing the hierarchy of “interference”.

The reigning national league champions fly to Scotland on Tuesday for the first leg of their maiden Europa League campaign against Glasgow City on Wednesday.

Their preparations were thrown into disarray when, within 24 hours of beating Shamrock Rovers 2-0 on Saturday, Fortune tendered his resignation.

American Nick Giannotti in July became Chairman of the club, headhunting Steven Gray from Shamrock Rovers to become chief executive.

Fortune said he walked for two reasons – a failure to tie down himself and players on contracts as well as an alleged proposal for an executive board member to join the staff.

He went on to say that although he was informed player contracts must wait, some were approached over his head by club officials.

The Athlone native said these developments undermined his authority and influenced his decision to quit.

"I felt it undermined my management and created confusion in the dressing room and I couldn't have that," he told the Westmeath Independent.

“We needed to tie down who we needed to keep for next season, to do it fairly urgently to fend off the other clubs.

"I found it strange to wait because we have a men's first team manager who has a two-year contract and is making plans for next season already, and rightly so.

"It kind of got me thinking that maybe they've lost trust or confidence in me, which is strange because of the position that we are in in the league, the cup, and with the European run. Something just didn't sit right.

"Last week, a few players came to me and said the club had been in touch with them about retaining (them for next year), and they wanted to know what my position was.

"I wasn't aware that the club was speaking to the players, so I again looked for clarity as to my own position and, again, they said nothing would be done until the end of the season."

Athlone have won three of their four European games in the campaign but after moving from the Champions to the Europa League, Fortune noticed a change.

"When we came back from the Netherlands it was suggested that there would be an executive board member inserted into the coaching staff,” he explained.

“They would assist me tactically, my team selections and training. They would be able to report back directly to the board with team selections and, tactically, what way we were playing.

"That I found very odd. Maybe I'm old school, but I think an executive board member should be in the boardroom.

"We can't just land somebody in the middle of our dressing room. (The players) will start wondering what's going on here. I could lose the dynamics of the dressing room. People might not start talking as freely or as openly as they should.

"That's something that I've managed all year, because the dressing room is sacred. The dressing room is what wins leagues or loses leagues. We need to keep the dressing room togetherness there.

"At this stage of the season - five games away from winning a league, in the semi-final of the cup, and the massive European run we've had - I didn't think the timing was appropriate. I thought it was going to upset the whole thing and that it had the potential to threaten the run-in for the remainder of the season."

Gray also spoke to the Westmeath Independent to address the claims.

"I'm only in the job (as CEO) five weeks, and I'm working 12-hour days, trying to sort out everything at the club," said the former Drogheda United and Derry City defender.

"I emphasised (to Colin), ‘could you please give me time because everything's being reviewed?’.

“The club is in the middle of a financial audit at the moment, and everything we're going to do is going to be based off our finances.

"So I couldn't offer Colin a contract for next year when I don't know what money we have. This is the truth.

"I wasn't in a position to offer him (a new contract) in the middle of a financial audit. And that's across the board. My hands are tied.

On the topic of interference, Gray added: "I never stepped into the dressing room without his approval and I never told him what team to pick," said Gray. "I offered my full support.

"Colin met me on Monday (last) and said, 'I need help, I need support, I haven't got enough staff'. I said to him, 'Colin, if you want my help I'm here.' He asked for help, and I offered my help. That is what happened."