American businessman confirmed as new owner of Athlone Town
Giannotti takes over from US-based company owners Valeo Futbol Partnership.
The American businessman is a co-founder of Redball Energy, a Washington-based solar company, and has served as a Director and minority shareholder of Plymouth Argyle FC.
Advertisement
In a statement, Giannotti pledged to be 'honest, transparent, thoughtful, and open' with supporters in his new role.
'Many of you may be skeptical, as I am not local to Athlone, but I can assure you that I am not just another disconnected, non-Irish owner,' Giannotti said.
A message from Nick Giannotti. pic.twitter.com/WZQfPucUk4 — Athlone Town AFC (@AthloneTownAFC) July 4, 2025
'I was born and raised in San Diego, California, where I grew up playing football for a club called the Nomads and won three national championships. As a teenager, I was fortunate enough to spend two summers in the Northwest of England playing with the team, witnessing firsthand the significance of football to local communities.
'My father immigrated to the United States from Italy through Ellis Island. His story echoes that of so many Irish families who made a new life abroad. My wife, whose roots trace back to Cork, also studied at university in Dublin. Together, we have two young children, and our family is proud to now become part of the Athlone community.
Related Reads
Bohemians are a financial monster in League of Ireland and will only get stronger
Shelbourne confirm Joey O'Brien as Damien Duff's full-time successor
Losing the LOI's top scorer for €30,000 shows measures clubs must take just to keep up
'Professionally, I co-founded Redball Energy, a solar company I've had the privilege to lead for over 15 years. More recently, I've had the chance to merge my professional skills and personal passion by serving as a Director and minority shareholder of Plymouth Argyle FC. Football is a lifelong passion of mine, and it is with that same energy, respect, and drive that I come to Athlone.
'While I am not from Ireland, I know how much this club means to its supporters and its town. I understand the responsibility of this role. Please know that I am not here to change Athlone's identity. I aim to honour it, to protect it, and to grow it alongside all of you.'
Athlone currently sit bottom of the First Division table, having won just three of their 21 league games.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
30 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Brian O'Driscoll and Amy Huberman attend Wimbledon as actress wears Irish design
Brian O'Driscoll and Amy Huberman were among the spectators at Wimbledon on Saturday as they took in the action from the Royal Box. The couple were all smiles as they arrived at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club. Rugby great O'Driscoll wore a beige suit, while his actress wife wore a pink floral dress from Irish brand Férí, which costs almost €400 to buy. Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner remain on track for a semi-final showdown at Wimbledon, following their respective victories on Saturday. Djokovic notched up his 100th win at the prestigious tournament, advancing to the fourth round with ease. Meanwhile, Sinner continued to navigate a serene course through the choppy waters of Wimbledon with another straight-sets win. Irish Mirror sport Solus embed With this win, the 23-year-old Italian has lost a mere 17 games across his three matches. Federer previously held the record for the fewest games lost in the first three rounds at Wimbledon, with 19 in 2004. Brian O'Driscoll and Amy Huberman attend day six of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships (Image: John Walton/ PA) 1 of 7 Brian O'Driscoll and Amy Huberman attend day six of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships (Image: Getty Images) 2 of 7 Brian O'Driscoll and Amy Huberman attend day six of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships (Image: Getty Images) 3 of 7 Brian O'Driscoll and Amy Huberman attend day six of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships (Image: Getty Images) 4 of 7
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Stealth hike in Irish personal injury insurance payouts will hit us all in the pocket – Govt's timing couldn't be worse
INSURANCE premiums are another rising cost in Ireland's affordability crisis, with prices outpacing those in many other European countries. The average cost of 3 The rises can cause real world problems for many people Credit: Getty Images - Getty 3 Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan Credit: Alamy 3 Brian Hanley said prices outpace those in many other European countries Credit: social media collect - IVAN COOPER That's almost double the price of the average And there are fears they could shoot up even more, as the proposed personal injury award guidelines are to be increased by almost 17 per cent. These rises can cause real world problems for many people. It could mean driving less or taking Small READ MORE IN OPINION Justice Minister Brian Hanley of the Alliance for Insurance Reform, says the timing of an increase in personal injury awards couldn't be worse for policyholders. IF you are a motorist, small business owner, The Most read in The Irish Sun Now, in the middle of this affordability crisis, the Government is preparing to quietly make things even worse. A proposal is set to be brought to Cabinet to increase personal injury awards by nearly 17 per cent, reversing much of the progress made over the past three years to bring a degree of balance and consistency to injury compensation in Ireland. HIGHER THAN ENGLAND Nobody disputes that people who suffer injuries deserve fair compensation, but Irish awards are already among the highest in Europe. A 2019 analysis by the Personal Injuries Commission showed personal injury awards here were 440 per cent higher than those in That kind of disparity isn't fair — it's unsustainable. The move comes as the latest Central More claims and rising repair costs — driven by inflation — have already pushed up the cost of cover. The one factor helping to contain those costs was a reduction in injury awards. Now, that progress risks being undone. This is especially concerning for Tracy Sheridan, who runs Kidspace play centres in Rathfarnham and Rathcoole and is a board member of the Alliance for Insurance Reform, sees the effect first-hand. HARDER TO KEEP GOING She says: 'Every month we're hearing about premiums going up. The only bright spot had been that awards had come down. If Government raises them now, there'll be no brake on rising insurance costs. It's just not sustainable.' And it's not just businesses feeling the strain. Across the country, voluntary groups, sports clubs and community organisations — many operating on a shoestring — are finding it harder and harder to keep going. They're doing everything right: improving safety, reducing risk, keeping clean records. Yet when the insurance renewal comes around, the premium has risen again. Here's the kicker: for liability insurance, which covers injuries that happen in places like community centres or sports pitches, the cost of claims has actually gone down — by ten per cent in the same six-month period. In a properly functioning market, that should lead to lower premiums, but that hasn't happened. What's worrying is how little public discussion there's been about this planned increase. The Government has been virtually silent for six months, even though this change affects every single policyholder in the country. There's been no proper scrutiny from the In 2021, new Personal Injuries Guidelines were introduced to bring more consistency and fairness. They helped align Irish awards more closely with international norms. FOOT THE BILL Those reforms were a step in the right direction — but they are now at risk of being reversed before they've had a chance to deliver lasting impact. The Central Bank's report makes another key point: legal costs blow up when claims are settled through litigation instead of the Injuries Resolution Board. For liability claims under €100,000 — which account for 94 per cent of all personal injury cases — legal fees go from just €597 at the Injuries Board to over €24,000 for claims settled in litigation. The average award for claimants is actually the same, so you're left asking who really benefits from almost 70 per cent of cases going into litigation? Not claimants and certainly not policyholders. It's the public — motorists, business owners, The Government must now pause this proposal and refer it to the relevant Oireachtas committee. We need transparency, data, and evidence — not quiet decisions made behind closed doors. Let's debate the facts, consult the experts and hear from the people who are paying the premiums. Because if insurance keeps going the way it is going, the damage won't just be financial — it will be social and structural. Ireland needs a personal injury system that is fair for claimants, and affordable for everyone else.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
North Wexford carers honoured for bringing ‘care, joy and connection' to their clients
They were recognised for their contributions helping people to stay living independently in their homes and communities safely, while maintaining individuality, confidence, and joy. The National Day of Joy – an important day in the calendar each year to celebrate all the simple, everyday moments that lift spirits and brings people closer together Collette Gleeson, CEO of Comfort Keepers praised the hard work of all the carers put in to ensure independence for their clients. 'What our teams do is much more than daily support, and the impact of our home care and support services on people around the country is profound. Each of our carers brings care, joy and connection into their clients' homes every day, while helping them to stay independent, confident, and part of the communities they love. CEO Collette Gleeson said the annual celebration is an important opportunity to 'honour the incredibly hardworking and passionate members of our teams'. As part of its National Day of Joy, Comfort Keepers teams delivered flowers and celebration packs to clients, and hosted parties in Comfort Keepers' offices and in the homes of those they care for across Ireland. The company also marked 20 years of uplifting homecare and celebrated being named the All-Ireland Champion Home Care Company 2025 by the All-Ireland Business Foundation, for the second consecutive year. Client Care Supervisor, Hayley O Brien highlighted the importance of recognising care work in the local community. 'Its hugely important that they're recognised. Its just something to give back to the carers who give to people every day. 'What they [carers] do day in day out and everything they do that goes unnoticed. I would say they're kind of the unsung heroes of our community' Hayley stated. In addition, Anne-Marie Lonergan was one of ten regional winners of this year's Carer of the Year Awards celebrated on the day as she has worked in the caring sector for almost three decades. Hayley O Brien further praised her dedication to the job. 'We are incredibly proud of Anne Marie – well deserved recognition of her outstanding compassion and commitments to her clients'. Comfort Keepers provides a wide range of services including personal care and companionship, disability support, and Dementia and Alzheimer's care, overnight and 24- hour care, and light homemaking/housekeeping support overseen by its clinical nurse management team, for any individual, including older adults, who wants to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. Established in 2005, Comfort Keepers has grown to nearly 2,000 employees and has become a trusted name in Irish home care. It is a HSE-preferred provider of homecare and support services with 15 locations all across the country including Wexford. 'Award days like this are only a small part of the story' Hayley concluded.
