'There will always be players who want to go' - Athlone owner prepares for exodus

Athlone Town investor Nick Giannotti celebrates after the 2025 Sports Direct Women's FAI Cup Final. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile.

Athlone Town’s new American owner Nick Giannotti expects an exodus of his women’s double-winning team but insists there’ll be willing replacements lined up.

Sunday’s 3-2 victory over Bohemians added the FAI Cup to the national league title Athlone retained earlier in the month.

Their success has been backboned by a fusion of local talent with international imports, several of whom have been linked with exits following the expiration of their contracts.

Uncertainty over player contracts, coupled with alleged interference from the new hierarchy, led to manager Colin Fortune quitting on the eve of their Europa Cup visit to Glasgow City last month.

American Kelly Brady, whose hat-trick clinched the Cup, is one of many players with offers from other clubs, home and abroad.

Californian Giannotti assumed control of the club in July by taking over as Chairman. His Redball Global company, along with Eric Perez, recently bought Kenny Bruce’s 50 percent stake in Northern Ireland club Larne. He is also a minority shareholder in English League One side Plymouth.

His footballing experience has taught him the reality of player transfers. Talent will seek higher levels to test themselves and for all the effort he’s exerted to retain the squad now under the management of John Sullivan, exits are inevitable.

He’s already been working with the club’s staff on assembling a squad capable of another Champions League tilt and securing a third domestic title on the spin.

“There will always be players who want to go and some will stay,” said Giannotti at Tallaght, while clutching a Cuban cigar he intended to smoke to celebrate the double.

“The reality is we’re going back to the Champions League next season.

“They’re a great group and within they’ll have to convince themselves. It will be fine.

“We’ll get some new players who will want to come and play for this great team.

“When you’re the best team in Ireland, qualifying for the Champions League again, it’s not too hard of a sell to bring players in.”

When Bohemians manager Alban Hysa last week outlined how women’s clubs offering professional contracts operate at a loss, eyebrows were raised about a two-tier system in Ireland.

Giannotti is practical enough to realise profit isn’t the driver in the current landscape, moreso the component of a club he plans to awaken from its slumber in the Midlands.

“The women’s section has been great for the community and team - we’re advancing and investing in the women’s section all the time,” he outlined.

“The players said it was important to have their names and numbers on the back of their jerseys for the final so we did that.

“We’re already planning for next year, trying to make the match-day environment more attractive. We’ll drive more festivities at the ground. We have a great facility with lots of land and space to do things.

“I said from the moment I met them that this is a very special group of girls. You see how great they are together. I’m glad to help them through this journey. It’s not mine – it’s theirs and really, really special.

“There's a lot of things that Athlone Town can be and I’m here to help where we plan on going.

“The reality is the women’s team has momentum. That’s important to me.”