Athlone Town and Mike Kerley part company

Athlone Town have confirmed that first team manager Mike Kerley has left the club.

In a statement, the club confirmed that assistant manager Padraig Moran will take over first team affairs for the rest of the season. Moran joined Athlone in 2009 as assistant to Brendan Place.

The club thanked Kerley for ‘his contribution to the club over recent years’ and wished him the best of luck in the future.

Moran played for Sligo Rovers, Derry City, Limerick 37 and his hometown club Athlone Town in his League of Ireland career.

The club currently lie fifth in the First Division table but are fifteen points off a promotion play-off spot, and 22 points off top of the table Limerick.

Mike Kerley was appointed Athlone Town manager in January 2011 after the club parted with Brendan Place at the end of the 2010 season. Kerley was re-appointed for the 2012 season but a poor late run of form has sealed his fate.

June 29th was the club’s last win, a 2-0 win over SD Galway, but with no wins in the following seven games, the club have decided to move in a new direction.

Kerley served as assistant manager in Limerick in 2003, before taking over as caretaker manager of the club following the departure of Noel O’Connor. Appointed as manager, Kerley guided Limerick to the First Division promotion play-offs in 2003.

A disappointing second season in Limerick saw Kerley depart, but he was appointed Waterford United manager in December 2005.

Kerley resigned as Blues manager in July 2006, and returned to guide Limerick to a fifth placed finish in the First Division in 2008. Kerley again parted ways with Limerick just prior to the start of the 2009 season before joining Athlone Town in 2012.

Athlone Town’s next match sees a home tie with Longford Town on Friday night.

The club statement reads:

“Athlone Town FC can confirm that Padraig Moran will assume First Team responsibility for the remainder of the season following the departure of Mike Kerley.

All at Athlone Town would like to thank Mike for his contribution to the club over recent years and wish him best of luck in the future. We call on all supporters of the club to rally around Padraig as he takes control of the first team ahead of Longford Town’s visit to Lissywoollen this Friday, August 31st at 7.45pm.”