RODDY COLLINS said yesterday that he was looking forward to working with Cork City in the Premier league and Europa Cup and remains hopeful that the club will be allowed participate in both despite the financial problems that have dogged it over the past couple of years.

Speaking after he had been confirmed as the club’s new manager, Collins said that he would prepare his players for life in the top flight and observed “it would be a terrible shame if a club like Cork City weren’t part of it.”

He said he appreciated money would be tight at the club next year but insisted: “If you’re into money you could always go and work somewhere else, but nobody who is passionate about football could turn down the opportunity to take on a job like this.”

Collins does not have the coaching qualifications to oversee City’s games in the Europa League qualifying rounds during the summer but said he is “confident” he can obtain them over the coming months.

There are no scheduled pro license courses during the months ahead here but Collins hopes to benefit from some “fast tracking” on the part of the FAI.

If he does not succeed on that front, it is possible the club will have to hand at least notional control of team affairs to a qualified coach for the matches in question. The Dubliner inherits about half of last year’s senior squad but had yet to meet them. He said he will use his contacts in Britain and Europe to recruit other players for the campaign ahead.

Confirming Collins’s appointment, the club’s general manager, Liam Meaney said in a statement: “Having interviewed a number of high-quality candidates who expressed their interest in the position, we feel that Mr Collins is best suited for the club’s needs in the forthcoming 12 months.

“We are delighted that he is a free agent; he has extensive experience and a proven record of success when operating on a restricted budget and his appointment represents a significant financial saving for the club with regard to this position, without compromising on quality.”