RODDY COLLINS ADMITS that he was “surprised” by Athlone Town’s decision to advertise for a new manager.

Collins led Athlone to the First Division title and promotion but is now out of contract and has been linked with other Premier Division posts including the vacancy at Derry City.

He had held informal discussions with chairman John Hayden but was caught off guard when Athlone publicly advertised the job yesterday.

“Why wouldn’t I sit down and talk to them?” he told Midlands Sport (listen here).

“We’ve taken a team into the Premier League. We’ve a good structure, good young players and a great support base.

I’ve been waiting for nearly six weeks now to sit down with the board. I haven’t met the board once. I had small conversations with the chairman hopefully leading up to sitting with the board but this comes as a bit of a surprise to me.

“It’s not important because at the end of the day, the football club is bigger than the manager.

“If the chairman feels he wants a different manager or a different way of getting a manager or wants me to reapply for the job, that’s his prerogative.”

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