Athlone Town have been rocked by the surprise departure of boss Colin Fortune just days before their Europa Cup clash against Glasgow City.
The midlanders are top of the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division and are still in Europe thanks to their Champions League Round 2 qualifier third-placed play-off win against Red Star at the end of August.
That victory saw them drop into the first qualifying round of the newly formed second-tier European competition, the UEFA Women's Europa Cup. They have been pitted against Glasgow City in a two-legged tie, with the first leg in Scotland this Wednesday, but Fortune won't be in the dugout.
In a short statement, the club said: "Athlone Town AFC can confirm that Colin Fortune has stepped down from his role as manager of the women's first team with immediate effect.
"The club has accepted Colin’s resignation with disappointment, but also with gratitude for his work across a still-ongoing historic season.
"The club will begin the process of appointing a new permanent manager, and provide further updates in due course."
Fortune took the reins last winter after league-winning boss Ciaran Kilduff stepped away to manage Dundalk's men's team. Athlone are four points clear of Shelbourne at the summit with five league games to play.
