Eamonn Collins, as expected, was unveiled as the new St Patrick's Athletic manager at a press conference in the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, yesterday.

Collins, who has been head coach and assistant manager at the club for the past four years, was appointed caretaker manager last week following the departure of Pat Dolan to Cork City and becomes, as chairman Andy O'Callaghan pointed out, the first Inchicore native to manage the club.

"I am deeply, deeply grateful for the chance and want to prove to the board and the supporters that I can carry this club forward," said Collins, who has signed a two-year contract and has named Martin Russell, who ended his playing career last season, as his assistant.

Collins, the son of a former St Patrick's chairman and brother of two former players at the club, paid a warm tribute to Dolan, whose Cork City side, as luck would have it, will play host to St Patrick's in the opening game of the season on April 13th.

"Pat brought me to the club in 1997 and I'd like to thank him for doing that. He was a huge influence on me and I think everyone respects the fact that he did an unbelievable job for the club. That will never be forgotten.

"I hope he gets the biggest welcome anyone ever got when he comes back to Richmond Park," he said of Cork City's league visit on June 8th to Inchicore.

Among Collins' well-wishers was Republic of Ireland manager, Brian Kerr, who Dolan succeeded at St Patrick's in 1996.

"In its previous three appointments the club made no mistakes. Brave decisions were made in appointing people who had no previous experience as league managers.

"This is another brave and considered decision in appointing a man who has a clear understanding of both the club and its traditions. I wish him all the success he deserves, which, I have no doubt, he will achieve."

Collins, in turn, expressed the wish that more league players would emulate Glen Crowe in breaking into the senior squad.

"Hopefully, some of our players will catch the eye of Brian Kerr. He's a man who will go and look at games in the Eircom League, and not many Irish managers before him did that, so it's a good incentive for all the players to show Brian how good they are.

"By the way," he added, "Martin (Russell) couldn't be here because his wife has gone in to labour. You asked about new players - maybe there's one."

"I'm very happy with the squad I have," said Collins when asked if he intended strengthening it in the six weeks before the season starts, "but it needs some tinkering. I'll be working on that in the next few days and weeks.

"I've spoken to a couple of players in the last 24 hours and I'm going to England tomorrow."

"Is Thomas Heary a target?" he was asked of the Huddersfield player.

"A good question," he replied. "All players are targets."

"You sound like Bin Laden," came the reply.

The laughter was interrupted by the ring of a mobile phone.

"Lighten up, Osama," said a wag.