Barnsley appoint ex-Sunderland, Hartlepool, Wolves, Preston, Leeds, Sheff Utd, Port Vale player Neill Collins as their new boss.
The League One side have appointed the former 39 year old defender as their new head coach on a two-year deal, taking over at Oakwell after four years in charge of USL Championship club Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Collins replaces Michael Duff, who left to take over at Championship side Swansea City in June. The Tykes finished fourth in League One earlier this summer, but they were beaten by Sheffield Wednesday in the playoff final.
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Neill Collins as our new Head Coach!
— Barnsley FC (@BarnsleyFC) July 6, 2023
CLUB STATEMENT:
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Neill Collins as our new Men’s First Team Head Coach on a two-year deal.
Barnsley FC CEO, Khaled El-Ahmad, commented on the acquisition: “We are happy to be able to bring Neill to Oakwell to work with our staff and continue upon the foundation we implemented at the start of the last campaign.
“The primary focus is now allowing Neil to settle in and begin to build relationships with the staff and players at Oakwell and commence preparations for the upcoming season.”
South Yorkshire is an area not unfamiliar to Collins, having played 216 times for Sheffield United in a five-year spell at Bramall Lane. A long and established playing career in the UK saw the Scot feature for clubs such as Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leeds United and Hartlepool United.
After a successful career across the leagues, Collins made the switch to the States to finish his playing career with Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL Championship.
Impressing the hierarchy with his work ethic and attitude, the Scotsman was appointed as Manager of the Florida-based outfit after deciding to hang up his boots in 2018.
In a Covid interrupted 2020 campaign, ‘The Rowdies’ finished top of the table and reached the final of the resulting play-off tournament, only for the final to be called off due to Covid infections amongst members of his side.
At the end of the 2021 season, Collins was awarded USL Championship Coach of the Year after guiding the team to 23 wins in the Eastern Conference, just missing out on a title when losing in the final.
Upon joining the Reds, Collins spoke of his excitement towards the project that lies ahead: “First of all, I’d like to say a huge thanks to the Tampa Bay Rowdies for supporting me in exploring this opportunity. Without all the staff and players incredible hard work this would not have been possible.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be stepping back in to the EFL and even more so to be joining a club of this stature. Everything I do will be aimed at repaying the faith showed in me by the owners and Khaled and of course giving the Barnsley faithful a team that they can be proud of.
“I am fortunate to be working with a squad that just achieved a play-off final but understand there is a lot of work to be done if we want to replicate that success and go a step further.
“I can’t wait to get started and work on getting this club back to where it belongs.”
Here’s what fans are saying as Barnsley appoint the ex-Sunderland, Hartlepool, Wolves, Preston, Leeds, Sheff Utd, Port Vale player…
@BFCDrinkers: Subsidised travel to Tampa Bay for pre-season we will be happy 👍🏼
@bfc_cal: I’m glad to see JAQ’s American connections aren’t having an unnecessary American influence on the club… oh wait
@t_roberts105: And the crowd goes mild
@LagerTyke: Sounds like he plays 3412 but can switch to 4 at the back when needed so might continue where duff left off. Will have to wait and see I suppose. Club now need to pull finger out and give him some attacking threat with more strikers. A lwb, along others
@J_hanwell: Good appointment. Seen Tampa Bay Rowdies a number of times and they play great football. I know its at a different level, but think he’ll do well.
@Andy__Mac:
We got a gaffer!!!
Welcome Neill.
Time to get behind him and go again.
@JamesArmo1994: Good centre back in his day but can’t help but think that the club have failed us by going for the cheap option yet again
@calton_claire: You never know he might be amazing. Stop being negative guys. Let’s get behind him and hope for another fab season. You reddsss
@Prestonoldham51: Bit of a come down from Wilder and Moore to be fair
@reecebfc05: Welcome, can’t say I know much and wouldn’t have been first choice but we need to get behind him and back him
@GavinAllott: Looks a great appointment to me, good work! Onwards to another battling season at the top hopefully! 💪🏻
@GuestyBFC: Can’t help but think he was the 4th or 5th choice but time will tell how he does.
@SteveRose1968: Nice one, now announce the real one 👍
@BaileyStables: Never heard of him but let’s get behind him and the Reds! Just need to make some more signings and the current players and we’ll be fine
@Dumsch_Goldie: You guys have got a good one. You may not know much about him but guarantee that’ll change soon enough
@carlostpa10: You all got one of the greatest young tactical minds of the game right now; going to do great things, we’ll miss you Neilly 💚
@RWilco110720: You got a brilliant coach in @neillycollins3 and are lucky to have him. Excited to follow his career and gutted to see him leave.
