Collins has endured a tough start to his Derry reign
“I’m here to win the league trophy, it’s the only ambition and only thing I am here for.”
Roddy Collins’ bold words when appointed manager of Derry City in late 2013 are coming back to haunt him in the opening months of the season, if recent results and performances are indicators of anything.
When appointed last November the Dubliner hit all the right notes mentioning 1997 (when Derry last won the league) and how the club was the big club he was looking for, but with his honeymoon well and truly gone the marriage already looks shaky at this early stage.
Following his battle cry Collins’ assembled a squad that really could have challenged for the league title on paper, but they are fast getting left behind.
If current leaders Cork City win their game in hand, Collins’ “title challengers” will be ten points adrift of the league leaders.
The rebuilding process that he set out on promised so much but very little has been delivered so far.
The former Athlone Town boss brought Town players Enda Curran and son Roddy Collins jr with him to Derry, alongside former League One players John Paul McGovern and Cliff Byrne.
Added to that was the considerable experience of Danny Ventre, David Elebert and former Kilmarnock player Mark Stewart.
Collins’ rounded off his squad with a fine blend of youth including former Sheffield United player Aaron Barry, former Newcastle United youth player Lee Toland and the young Ipswich Town duo of Cormac Burke and Mark Timlin.
Despite the wealth of transfer talent brought in by the Derry City manager, performances and results have come at a premium. The 1-0 victory over bogey team Sligo Rovers has been a shining light in an otherwise forgettable start to the season.
Losses to Dundalk and Cork embittered the fanbase, with the former an insipid display away from home and to a team managed by Derry City managerial legend Stephen Kenny.
A poor goalless draw at Bray Wanderers on Good Friday hasn’t helped Collins’ cause, but it is his comments preceding the match that will have infuriated the Candystripes faithful.
It seems Collins has gone out in a number of games to play for a draw; this he may get away with at home to champions St. Patrick’s Athletic but not away at Bray Wanderers.
Derry City have the quality to challenge for honours
It is no disrespect to Bray but if Derry City aren’t travelling to the Carlisle Grounds fully seeking three points then the league title is certainly not the aim this season. It can’t be.
Maybe Collins sets his side up currently not to get beat so that the players are able to gel while also grinding out results, but so far this has not worked.
The current form and performances of the team have led some to say Declan Devine should not have been relieved of his duties, but Devine had seemingly lost huge parts of the dressing room and City went on a huge slump at a crucial time in the season last year.
Roddy Collins must soon understand the magnitude of the job he has taken. Right now he needs performances as much as results.
The shackles need removing and the quality of his signings must now stand up and deliver alongside the class already there such as Shane McEleney, Rory Patterson and Barry Molloy.
Derry City are much better than their current form and performances suggest, but they now need a manager to give them the confidence to play in such a way.
Whether Roddy Collins will soon give that freedom is what may determine how long he gets at the “big club” he so pined for.
The Irish Eye 