Ken Bryan is a man aiming for the top. The new Chairman of Athlone Town FC, who took over the post from Paddy McCaul, has dismissed claims that the Club's SOLE ambition this year is to get into their new stadium.

Instead, the Dublin born Area Manager of Bus Eireann is targetting promotion from the First Division this year and a place among the big boys of Irish soccer in 2006.

In his first detailed interview since becoming Chairman, Bryan insists the Club is on a solid footing off the field and thinks Stephen Kelly could turn out to be an outstanding young manager.

But firstly, who exactly is Ken Bryan? Brought up on Dublin's southside - just five minutes from Shamrock Rovers' famous old ground, Glenmalure Park - his family have always been sport lovers. In fact, his cousin, Stephen Cluxton is the current Dublin Gaelic football keeper.

During his teenage years, his family moved to Trim, Co. Meath, where he excelled on the gaelic field with St. Michael's CBS and had a brief flirtation with journalism with the Meath Chronicle. But it was on the basketball court where he eventually made a real impact, playing National League Second Division basketball for Trim. Unfortunately, a bad road accident in 1986 ended his love affair with basketball.

On a professional front, his working career started with Quinnsworth but then he joined CIE in Broadstone, Dublin. From there he went to Irish Rail's Personnel Office in Inchicore, before gaining promotion to their Human Resources Department in Connolly Station. His next stop took him full circle, back to Broadstone to Bus Eireann's Industrial Relations Department, before been eventually appointed Area Manager in Athlone in 1998.
Ken Bryan, right, pictured with Main Sponsor Mike Ganly, centre, and long serving committee member Michael Francis.

And here his association with Athlone Town FC began. "I've always been a soccer supporter and went to many Shamrock Rovers games as a young lad, watching the likes of Eamonn Dunphy, Johnny Giles and Ray Treacy. I started going to St. Mel's Park around the time they almost got promoted under Liam Buckley. They went close that year," he said.

With Bus Eireann also beginning a long and fruitful association with Athlone Town around that time, Ken became friendly with board members John Comber, Tony Connaughton and Paddy McCaul.

"I got more involved at board level in 2003 and it's just built up since then. Paddy McCaul gave great service to this Club and it's a huge honour to replace him as Chairman. It's also a huge honour that certain board members who have given Athlone Town enormous service felt I was right for the job.

"The committee is certainly more focussed this year. We have an overall plan, budget and a vision for where we want to go. Our priority this season, and I make no qualms about this, is winning promotion. We've a good young manager and a good squad of players. Of course the stadium is crucial to the future progress of the Club and everything is being done to make sure that happens. But we have to be ambitious in the meantime. I don't just want to compete. Third, fourth, fifth, sixth, ninth, tenth; it's all the same to me, it means nothing. We have to aim high and set the highest possible standards and by that it's meant we have to target promotion."

The Chairman has also defended the Club's decision to rename St. Mel's Park 'Golden Island Park'.

"Lots of people have asked me about this," he says, "and my view is that St. Mel's Park will always be synonymous with Athlone Town FC and the town. We did lots of soul searching before reaching a decision but untimately we felt we can't afford the luxury of turning down such lucrative sponsorship. While some people certainly regret the change, I haven't met with lots of criticism. It was something which had to be done to secure the best possible deal for the future of the Club. I think the genuine supporter of Athlone Town FC realises there was definite need to get major sponsorship on board a this was the only way the deal could happen.

"Our deals with Golden Island Shopping Centre and Ganly's HomeValue Hardware are two quality sponsorships. They are both in it for the long haul. They don't just throw a sum of money at us and say 'off with ye'. They are both impresssed with our vision and plans for the Club and fully support our ambition to get promoted back to the Premier Division and play Premier Division football at our new stadium in 2006. Their involvement with the Club has given us a massive boost, both financially and in the morale sense."

So with Bryan and his committee focused on promotion, does that put extra pressure on Stephen Kelly?

"There's always pressure on managers to achieve results. Stephen is relatively young but a lot mor experienced than some people give him credit for. He's well known and respected in the League and very ambitious. I think he's assembled a good enough squad to challenge for promotion and there's a tremendous team spirit at the Club. Stephen knows he'll be judged on results. But he's got tremendous support from me and we'll do everything we can to make his job easier and help the team perform to the best of their ability and potential on the pitch."

He added, "I've only one year as Chairman and I suppose I'll also be judged on the results I achieve in my role." Asked whether there will be money for Kelly to spend on new players when the transfer window reopens in July, Bryan said, "If we need to bring in new players then it's quite likely we'll be off the pace and we don't want that. I'll be disappointed if we're fourth or fifth come July. But in saying that, there may be a need to strenghten if we're challenging. We'll deal with that issue in July. It's too early to say at this stage." © Westmeath Independent