YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN!
Athlone blast Morton FIFA letter
FAI Council member Nixon Morton has been urged to formally withdraw the letter of concern he sent to FIFA and UEFA last week.
The schools representative claimed a number of his fellow 78-council members were worried about the direction the association was going under its leadership.
But after the FAI dismissed that claim by insisting it was committed to reform, Athlone Town have become the first club to publicly weigh into the spat.
The First Division club blasted Nixon, insisting it does not share his views and doubts the “the vast majority of those in Irish football” do either.
Morton (above) told FIFA and UEFA of concerns he had with FAI governance matters in the wake of January’s Government bailout.
Chief among his gripes were the increase from four to six independent directors on the FAI board and the decision to cull long serving Council members this summer. He also queried the process of appointing board chairman Roy Barrett, interim chief executive Gary Owens and his deputy Niall Quinn.
An Athlone Town statement read: “The board of Athlone Town AFC does not share any of the concerns recently expressed by Nixon Morton. “The timing of Mr Morton’s intervention, given the extreme circumstances that prevail globally, is regrettable.
“After a period of turmoil within Irish football, everyone involved in the game needs to work together and get football back on its feet. This letter adds nothing to the tough task of repairing the FAI’S public standing. ATAFC is calling on Mr Morton to formally withdraw his letter with immediate effect.”
Athlone also backed the interim FAI bosses, claiming Barrett, Owens and Quinn ‘inherited a mess not of their making’.
The statement added: “The interim board should be allowed to get on with their jobs, which have been hugely complicated by the pandemic.”
The timing of Mr Morton’s letter given the extreme circumstances is regrettable ....