Sport

CollinsSpeak: Roddy in words

"Roddy is from a good boxing family and I think he must have got a few punches as a young fella

Fri Nov 05 2004 - 00:00

"Roddy is from a good boxing family and I think he must have got a few punches as a young fella." - Then Shelbourne manager Dermot Keely (2000) after Collins (then Bohemians boss) had challenged him to a boxing match following a 'difference of opinion'.

"I needed a challenge, I get bored easily. I don't know what it is in my make-up but I need to prove all the time that I can get better and better, I need that." - Explaining why he and Bohemians parted company three years ago.

"Bohs offered me brilliant money, a lot more than I'm on here (Carlisle). I could have walked up and down Dublin, in to Lillie's, in to Reynards, drinking champagne but that's not me, I don't want that, I just want to prove to myself that I can go one step further." - Explaining why he went for the Carlisle United job.

"This is the best job for me because no one expects anything. if I get in to the top six, in to the play-offs, win promotion, that's a microwave job for me - I could be in the Premiership in two years." - Speaking two years ago of his plan to use Carlisle as a launch pad to greater things.

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"I love football management, I feel comfortable in it - I could walk in to Liverpool tomorrow and take over, no problem. That's how confident I am. I want to manage a Premiership club before the next five years is up, before I'm 45, and Ireland before I'm 50." - Thinking big (in 2002).

Roddy Collins (August 2003): "Nothing will stop me turning this situation around (at Carlisle). I had a good chat with John (Courtenay) and we will stick together to get things right. It is business as usual as far as I and John are concerned."

Carlisle owner John Courtenay (the next day): "There was a 10-second meeting with Roddy and I told him we had reached the end of the road."

"I like a challenge and I'm delighted to say 'The Rod is back' . . . this is a massive challenge . . . it's not one that I'll shirk from." - Collins, on his appointment as Dublin City manager in July.

"Shamrock Rovers are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Roddy Collins as team manager of SRFC." - Rovers' announcement yesterday.