Roddy Collins was back in the dugout on Friday night as he watched his new side fall to a 2-1 defeat to Shelbourne in the SSE Airtricity League First Division at Tolka Park. Ricardo Cravo was the man in charge of Athlone Town going into the game, wi
Roddy Collins was back in the dugout on Friday night as he watched his new side fall to a 2-1 defeat to Shelbourne in the SSE Airtricity League First Division at Tolka Park.
Ricardo Cravo was the man in charge of Athlone Town going into the game, with Collins taking his seat in the stands. However, come the second half Collins had taken up a position in the dugout and could be heard barking orders to the players.
The appointment marks Collins’ second spell at the club having spent a season at the helm in 2013, and he believes the club can fulfil their vast potential.
“I knew the potential of the club was there before, and the investors coming in have ensured me there is plenty of revenue there to get it going and plenty of players out there to bring in.”
Athlone Town fans have seen an influx of foreign players since the new investors pumped money into the club, and while some criticised this approach Collins believe if the players are good enough then it shouldn’t matter where they come from.
“We’ll get whoever the best players are. Honestly now, it doesn’t bother me. If a player can play, he can play. The keeper [a Latvian] took some stick during the week but I thought he was brilliant tonight. It doesn’t matter where they are from, and there will be options to bring players in from abroad.
“The beauty is if you are getting someone from outside, you’re not competing with other clubs because they don’t know who he is.”
Collins also revealed that he has joined the club for this season initially and will sit down with the owners at the end of the season and discuss were they go from there.
“The people that have come in have a five-year plan so I’ve come in for this year and at the end we will have a chat about an option for next year. I think the ultimate aim is to get a good professional team in Athlone that can compete at the top end for Europe season in, season out.”
