FORMER DERRY CITY boss Roddy Collins has said the personal nature of some of the attacks aimed at his family left him feeling “very upset” following his departure from the club.
“My kids took a bit of abuse so I had to take them out of school. I can take stick, but when I see my kids and wife taking it, that galls me.
“It was very difficult last week, because the kids were extremely upset and when they’re upset, I’m very upset. They’re my priority.”
Collins was reluctant to go into too much detail about his departure, but absolved Derry chairman Philip O’Doherty from blame, calling him “an honest man” and the “best chairman I’ve ever worked with”.
He called Derry a “fantastic club” but refused to say whether the players had shown him adequate support.
“There are people within the game who have different agendas for their own gain,” he added. “Maybe they’re desperate to stay in the game. And they use whatever influence they have to undermine a manager or assistant manager. They’re the ones that won’t sleep at night. I have no problem sleeping at night.”
He insisted that he had done a reasonable job at Derry under the circumstances, explaining that the side were hampered by a difficult early-season fixture list.
He also suggested his unwillingness to bow to the demands of outside influences may have cost him his job and added that he was keen to continue in football management.
“I have great belief in what I do — I’ll never pick a team on the advice of supporters or the media, and that’s probably the sword I fell on.
“I’m ready to go. I believe I’ve done nothing wrong. I don’t doubt my own ability.
“If an opportunity arrives [in management], I’m ready to go straight back in.”
Roddy Collins: 'I can take stick, but when I see my kids and wife taking it, that galls me'
Updated at 12.15
FORMER DERRY CITY boss Roddy Collins has said the personal nature of some of the attacks aimed at his family left him feeling “very upset” following his departure from the club.
Speaking on Newstalk’s Off the Ball, Collins said the abuse had affected his family significantly.
“My kids took a bit of abuse so I had to take them out of school. I can take stick, but when I see my kids and wife taking it, that galls me.
“It was very difficult last week, because the kids were extremely upset and when they’re upset, I’m very upset. They’re my priority.”
Collins was reluctant to go into too much detail about his departure, but absolved Derry chairman Philip O’Doherty from blame, calling him “an honest man” and the “best chairman I’ve ever worked with”.
He called Derry a “fantastic club” but refused to say whether the players had shown him adequate support.
He insisted that he had done a reasonable job at Derry under the circumstances, explaining that the side were hampered by a difficult early-season fixture list.
He also suggested his unwillingness to bow to the demands of outside influences may have cost him his job and added that he was keen to continue in football management.
“I have great belief in what I do — I’ll never pick a team on the advice of supporters or the media, and that’s probably the sword I fell on.
“I’m ready to go. I believe I’ve done nothing wrong. I don’t doubt my own ability.
“If an opportunity arrives [in management], I’m ready to go straight back in.”
Listen to the full interview here>
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