Athlone Town boss Tommy Hewitt is ready to meet the Shamrock Rovers juggernaut head on this season after declaring: ‘We want the title’.
The midlanders were last year’s shock contenders and, having finished seventh for two seasons running, pushed hard for the league before finishing second to Shelbourne.
They also lost out to Shels in the FAI Cup final but still hammered home the message that they mean business in the Women’s Premier Division this coming season.
But the return of a senior Shamrock Rovers side and their relentless recruitment drive has been the big talking point of the close season.
The Hoops raided champions Shels for six players so far. Peamount also took a hit while Athlone saw Melissa O’Kane and Jessica Hennessy join the Tallaght ranks.
Rovers are certainly ruffling feathers and will be expected to challenge for honours as a result, but Hewitt insists the pressure is on the newcomers rather than anyone else.
Shortlisted for Saturday’s SSE Airtricity / Soccer Writers Ireland ‘Women’s Personality of the Year award’, he feels there is no point cribbing at their financial clout.
Hewitt said: “If a player doesn’t want to play at a certain club, you can try pull on heartstrings but it doesn’t work. Ultimately players have their mind made up.
“Sometimes they look for a little excuse to get out, but we wish all the players who have left the best and I can only focus on the ones we have left.
“The main thing is their happiness. If they’re not happy, or always have that doubt that they should have gone somewhere else, maybe they should go to that other place.”
Hewitt continued: “Nothing surprises me in sport and definitely not in soccer.
“For some players the lure of being able to train professionally with Shamrock Rovers is probably a big thing for them. We always knew it could happen.
“The (amount of Shelbourne players who left) did shock me a bit, especially with them being in the Champions League.
“But like myself, I’m sure there’s nothing Noel (King) can really do if a player has their mind made up.
“The new challenge is to see how Shamrock Rovers settle into the league. All of these players they signed have played in the league and with top teams.
“So we’ll see how they get on when they come together in the first game of the season.
“But we’re well prepared and well equipped at Athlone and I’ll say it publicly and I’ll keep saying it - I want to win the league next year.
“I'm not going to hide behind anything. If we do, then fantastic. If we don't, then ultimately it’ll be down to me.”
Hewitt - who is poised to announce four new signings - is uncertain if Athlone Town star Emily Corbet - the league’s new ‘Player of the Year’ - is returning for next season.
He hasn’t heard from her since Christmas and added: “I’m not going to lie, the word out there is that she’s not coming back but the club or I haven’t been told.
“It would be sad to see Emily go but if she doesn’t want to play for us I think we’ve enough in that area to bring us the title next season.”
