John Sullivan has stepped down as manager of the Athlone Town senior women’s team just 1 week into the new LOI Women’s season.
Sullivan only took over the role in September 2025 on an interim basis following the departure of Colin Fortune, before being appointed permanently the following month on a two-year deal.
Despite the relatively brief nature of his tenure, the former League of Ireland player made an immediate impact. Under his guidance, Athlone Town secured a historic domestic double, winning both the Women’s Premier Division and the FAI Cup, cementing their status as the dominant force in Irish women’s football.
Heading into the 2026 season, Athlone had continued their momentum, including lifting the President’s Cup and beginning another title defence. They were held to a 1-1 draw away from home against Sligo Rovers on the opening weekend of the season
His departure now represents another significant change behind the scenes for a club that has experienced multiple managerial shifts in recent seasons, despite consistent success on the pitch.
The focus will now turn to who replaces Sullivan, with Athlone once again tasked with appointing a manager capable of sustaining their dominance domestically while continuing to compete in Europe.
An announcement is expected from Athlone Town shortly, With Steph Zamba being rumoured as the number one candidate for the role.
Athlone Town AFC can confirm that John Sullivan has tendered his resignation as our Women’s First Team Manager. We would like to thank John for his efforts with the club, both with our Men’s and Women’s teams
Our focus remains solely on preparing the team for their upcoming League fixture against DLR Waves this coming Saturday. The club will be making no further comment at this time