RODDY COLLINS ADMITS that he was “surprised” by Athlone Town’s decision to advertise for a new manager.
Collins led Athlone to the First Division title and promotion but is now out of contract and has been linked with other Premier Division posts including the vacancy at Derry City.
He had held informal discussions with chairman John Hayden but was caught off guard when Athlone publicly advertised the job yesterday.
“Why wouldn’t I sit down and talk to them?” he told Midlands Sport (listen here).
“We’ve taken a team into the Premier League. We’ve a good structure, good young players and a great support base.
I’ve been waiting for nearly six weeks now to sit down with the board. I haven’t met the board once. I had small conversations with the chairman hopefully leading up to sitting with the board but this comes as a bit of a surprise to me.
“It’s not important because at the end of the day, the football club is bigger than the manager.
“If the chairman feels he wants a different manager or a different way of getting a manager or wants me to reapply for the job, that’s his prerogative.”
He was on Newstalk the other night saying he was in Talks with a few clubs and he’d even like the Longford job.. So he can’t really complain there looking for someone else..
This mans voice goes through my head. Get off the stage Roddy and go manage under 12s where you belong.
Plenty of teams in the League would love to have Roddy Collins as manager
Not too sure if that’s true anymore.
I like him as an analyst and in fairness he’s done a good job in Athlone and Monaghan before that.
His problem is he still harbours ambitions of a bigger English job and personally I think Roddy’s managerial talents have a ceiling and a bottom half of the table LOI club is probably his level.
No point buying the daily star next Monday so.
Roddy done exactly what he set out to do gain promotion with an athlone team who never looked like getting into the premier division until his arrival. Clawed back a 9 point defisiset in the league to catch and over take Longford. He is an outstanding manger and gets results and that’s what counts. Im solid section O Longford town fc supporter but credit where it’s due
Absolute Del Boy, wouldn’t trust the chancer one bit. Athlone are better off without him.
Derry must be desperate if they want Shoddy. Doubt they’re that stupid.
The only man who talks himself all the way to the sack. Did it at Bohs after winning the double and he’s doing the same again now.