Athlone Town manager Terry Butler has urged the club's supporters to get behind the team as they continue to go through a very difficult season. The team suffered another defeat on Friday night, this time a 3-1 home loss to Cabinteely, and Butler wa
Athlone Town manager Terry Butler has urged the club's supporters to get behind the team as they continue to go through a very difficult season. The team suffered another defeat on Friday night, this time a 3-1 home loss to Cabinteely, and Butler wants the locals to back the club as they seek to overcome this barren spell. “We are trying to build confidence in the town and confidence in the club. I’m just sick of people knocking us all the time,” he said. “They don't realise what has gone on behind the scenes here and how hard people are working to promote the club again.” Friday’s result was yet another example of the difficulties the Midlands club have faced this campaign, with another loss leaving them rooted to the bottom of the table. After a Ciaran Grogan header levelled the score just before half time, it was hoped that Athlone could kick on and try and secure a positive result. However a lacklustre performance in the second half, which included an own goal from Baba Issaka, saw them slump to another defeat, although Butler believes things could have been different had a bit of luck gone their way. “We just never seem to get any luck at all do we? They got two sloppy goals, but I thought we bossed the game fairly well. “We were in a situation where you are in the dressing room at half time looking like you might go on and win it. We didn't want the first half to stop obviously because we were really pressing them, but we gave away a silly goal and you can't legislate for an OG. “We are trying to build positivity, but we can't seem to get any luck at all. “This is a young dressing room and they're learning, but they're learning the hard way.” Even in the face of constant adversity, Athlone have tried to maintain a positive mental attitude, something that will be important for the remainder of the campaign. “We just keep at it and believing that it has to turn. The intensity of the training has been very good for the last two weeks, we changed it up a little bit and the lads were buzzing.” “This was the best dressing room I have seen at half time, they had a smile on their face for a change. We were after getting back into the game, and deservedly so.” “Again, you go 2-1 down, it’s like that when you're down the bottom and nothing goes your way. It was the same down in Galway last week, two minutes into the second half you miss a penalty, our luck never seems to change. We just have to keep believing.” With the summer transfer window still open, this will represent Athlone’s final opportunity to strengthen their squad for the remainder of the season. After already adding a number of new personnel, the club are still hopeful that a couple of fresh faces can be drafted in. “We are having a look at adding one or two players in the next week, hopefully to get at least two in on loan and we should know more by next Tuesday or so.”
