Roddy Collins leaving the Brandywell pitch for the last time following the 1-0 defeat by Shamrock Rovers. Photo: Lorcan Doherty
Former Derry City manager Roddy Collins has revealed he had to take his children out of school because of the abuse they were getting during his tenure at Brandywell.
Admitting his departure from the Candystripes was “raw,” the Dubliner paid tribute to City chairperson, Philip O’Doherty, describing him as an “honourable and honest man.”
He also revealed his family had come in for abuse as a result of comments posted on social media by former Derry City favourite, James McClean.
Collins’ tenure at Derry ended on Sunday week last after the club announced he had left the club “by mutual consent.”
His departure came after City had only won two of their opening 12 game in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.
Peter Hutton, who joined him as his assistant at Brandywell in October last, has since been given the job until the end of the season.
Speaking on Newstalk’s “Off the Ball” programme, Collins was reluctant to speak about the departure in detail but was keen to emphasise that he held City chairperson, Philip O’Doherty, in high esteem.
He said: “It’s been a bit raw. If people want to know, it’s been in the newspapers; ‘Mutual consent’ – we all know what that means.
James McClean.
“I’ve never worked for a better chairman,” added the 52-year-old. “He is an honourable man, an honest man.
“He loves Derry, is a real community man, a good Irish man. He’s a man I respect inside and outside the business we were in.”
While he refused to speak about his relationship with the players while at Brandywell, Collins revealed he found comments by McClean on Twitter particularly galling because they upset his family.
The Republic of Ireland international and Wigan Athletic midfielder, who played with the Candystripes between 2008 and 2011, was vocal in his criticism of the former Derry City boss, focusing on the Dubliner’s selection of his son, Roddy Collins Jnr.
“It was brought to my attention because of profile,” said Collins. “My kids got a bit of abuse in school, so I had to take them out of school.
“You know, you can do what you want with me. I’m long enough in the tooth, I’ve been around the block enough times to take stick, but when my kids or my wife takes stick, that really galls me.”
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