RODDY COLLINS

'Roddy Collins' (born August 7 1961 in Dublin), is an Irish former professional football player and manager, and television pundit. He is the brother of successful boxer, Steve Collins.

Contents

Early career

Bohemians

Fall out from Bohemians

Carlisle United

Dublin City

Shamrock Rovers

Post Rovers

References

Early career

Collins began his career at local club Bohemian F.C. making his debut in September 1979 away to Finn Harps and made 2 appearances in European competition for the club before going on to play for Home Farm, Athlone Town (where he scored in the European Cup), Drogheda United and Dundalk from where he joined Mansfield Town in December 1985. He left to join Newport County in August 1987, playing seven times in their ill-fated 1987-88 season which would see them lose their place in the Football League amid a growing financial crisis.
Collins played once for Cheltenham Town, before returning to Ireland, joining Shamrock Rovers where he was top scorer in the 1988-89 season. He subsequently played for Dundalk again, Sligo Rovers, Crusaders, Glentoran, Bangor, Cliftonville, Larne and St Francis F.C..
Collins' first foray into management came at Bangor in 1994/95 which despite saving them from relegation, was relatively brief. In 1998 He found himself thrust into the spotlight when he was surprisingly appointed as Joe McGrath's successor at Bohemians.

Bohemians

Bohemians were a side which, despite being tipped as outside contenders for the title at the start of the year, were facing a relegation dogfight when Collins arrived in the 98/99 season. Collins' start to his reign as Bohs' manager was relatively impressive, and new signings such as Kevin Hunt eventually dragged the side out of relegation trouble and to safety. However, a poor run of results at the end of the season saw the Gypsies, which has never been outside of the top tier of Irish football, plummet back into relegation trouble, and were forced to take part in a play-off with Cobh Ramblers. Bohemians won the play-off convincingly, 7-0 on aggregate. He remained as manager during the close-season, though he was under pressure from both the supporters and the committee at Bohemians.
During the close-season Collins oversaw a massive change in personnel at the club, with old stalwarts such as Brian Mooney, Tommy Byrne and Peter Hanrahan being released, and new signings such as Glen Crowe, Mark Dempsey, Wayne Russell and Avery John coming in. Bohemians started the season brightly, and it was evident that this side would not be fighting relegation. Bohemians eventually finished 3rd in the league, and were beaten in a replay of the final of the FAI Cup by Shelbourne FC.
The following season, 2000/01, was to become one of the most remarkable, and controversial, in the history of Bohemians. Collins again brought in several new players during the summer break, with Simon Webb, Dave Hill among others joining record signing Trevor Molloy at the club.
Bohemians' opening game was an away tie in the UEFA Cup against Aberdeen FC, which was to be the first time that the club had fielded a starting eleven consisting entirely of full-time professional players. Despite being written off by the local press, Bohs produced one of the all-time great Irish performances in Europe to come from a goal down to defeat the Scots by two goals to one. Bohemians were beaten 1-0 in the return leg, due to an own-goal, but progressed on the away goals rule and faced German giants Kaiserslautern in the next round.
Despite putting in an impressive display, Bohemians were beaten by 3 goals to 1 in Tolka Park in the first leg, and suffered from some careless defensive lapses and a controversial red card. In Germany, Bohemians shocked the hosts by winning 1-0 thanks to a goal from Glen Crowe, and were unlucky not to score more (even having a goal ruled out for off-side). Bohemians were out of Europe, and had made history by achieving successive away victories in European competition.
In the league that season Bohs were showing good form, though with Glen Crowe emerging as a phenomenal goal-scorer and Kevin Hunt marshalling the midfield. Once out of Europe, results began to dip, and Collins found himself under pressure. Shelbourne were clear leaders at the top, and a huge investment in the Bohemians playing side looked set to fail to reap just rewards. In January 2001, Collins was under huge pressure as Bohemians travelled to Santry to take on fierce rivals Shamrock Rovers. At half time, Bohemians were amazingly trailing the game by 3 goals, as Rovers scored 4 to Bohs 1. It looked certain that a new manager would be appointed folliwing the game. However, in one of the most remarkable come-backs in Irish football, Bohemians put 5 past a shell-shocked Rovers side in the second half and won 6-4. That result, coupled with a break for several weeks due to the foot and mouth outbreak in the UK and Ireland, gave Bohemians the momentum to mount a late challenge for the league.
Bohemians went into the last game of the season trailing Shelbourne by 1 point, as the Gypsies travelled to Kilkenny on the final day. Meanwhile, Shelbourne were hosting Cork City in a game which the hosts were expected to win comfortably. To win the league, Bohemians needed to win and hope that Cork could achieve at least a draw in Tolka. Bohemians won 5-0, while Cork shocked Shelbourne by defeating them on their home patch. Bohemians were crowned champions, and the aftermath of the result would shape the rest of Roddy Collins career.

Fall out from Bohemians

Following winning the title, Collins launched an astonishing attack at the upper echelons of Bohemians to the media. Citing a lack of support, organisation and ambition, Collins challenged the club to support him in his big to take Bohs to the next level or he would leave. This caused huge controversy at the club, and divided the fan-base. Many felt that Collins had a point, but most felt that it was wildly inappropriate in terms of both timing and to criticise those individuals who work voluntarily for the club.
The following weekened Bohemians beat Longford Town in the FAI Cup Final, following which Collins was supposedly set to discuss a new contract with the Bohemians committee. It is alleged that Collins never turned up for the contract negotiations, and then went for a holiday in the USA. During this time the club announced that Pete Mahon would be taking over the reigns at Bohemians, which ended Collins' association with the club.
To the present day Roddy Collins' name is sure to spark intense debate amongst the Bohemians faithful, with some fans staunchly opposing and supporting the former manager. He managed the club for 96 league games - winning 46, drawing 23 and losing 27. They scored 136 times, conceded 81 and kept 41 clean sheets.

Carlisle United

Collins was appointed as manager of Carlisle United in July 2001,^[1] but was sacked in April 2002 after stating that he would resign unless owner Michael Knighton sold the club to John Courtenay.^[2].
Courtenay finally took control of the club in July 2002 and instantly reappointed Collins as manager.^[3].
Collins was sacked in August 2003 after Carlisle had lost their first four games of the season.^[4]. It later transpired that Collins had lost the backing of owner Courtenay after trying to re-sign 37 year old former player Ian Stevens.^[5]

Dublin City

In July 2004 he took over as manager of Dublin City,^[6] but left in November 2004, just hours before a crucial game, to manage Shamrock Rovers^[7].

Shamrock Rovers

As manager of Shamrock Rovers, Collins struggled both on and off the pitch. Following a points deduction for an error with licensing, the club was set to face a relegation play-off. Despite amassing enough points to keep the club safe prior to the deduction, a result of an error by a previous board of directors, Collins was squarely blamed for Rovers' predicament. His decision to take part in a charity boxing event in the midst of the campaign only served to further enrage a loyal Rovers support, who questioned his commitment.
His contract was terminated by Rovers in November 2005 as the club were relegated for the first time ever. Collins later brought a claim of unfair dismissal against Shamrock Rovers to the Employment Appeals Tribunal in Dublin, the case was settled out of court in November 2007.^[8]

Post Rovers

In January 2007 he was briefly linked to the vacant Shelbourne managerial post, however the proposal was not endorsed by the board at the club. Collins is believed to have returned to his plastering trade, and aside from his weekly column in The Star on Sunday and the occasional appearance as a TV pundit Collins is no longer involved in football.
In his weekly column he continues to question the merits of the league while ironically also being retained as a pundit for the national broadcaster for live league games.
After his phenomenal success at Bohemians, Collins' management career has since failed to provide any achievements worthy of comparison. Opinion of him is divided, many fans believing him to have been a lucky manager at Bohemians, while many believe him to be a victim of circumstance following his departure from Dalymount Park.

References

1. Collins takes Carlisle job
2. Carlisle sack boss Collins
3. Hero's welcome for new United owner
4. Collins sacked from Carlisle United
5. Courtenay explains Collins exit
6. Collins takes Dublin post
7. Collins move outrages Dublin
8. Collins settles unfair dismissal claim