Roddy’s rant raises player ire
Collins — who has managed a string of league clubs including Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers — raised the issues on RTÉ Radio 1’s Today With Sean O’Rourke programme, in the aftermath of Sunday’s FAI Cup final.
The outspoken pundit insisted he was “embarrassed” by the quality of football produced at Lansdowne Road in the decider between Derry City and victors St Patrick’s Athletic, adding the football public were deluded if they felt the standard was comparable to lower division football in England.
Collins was accompanied to the game by Luton Town manager John Still, hoping his guest would spot a potential bargain as David Moyes did almost five years ago, when snapping up Séamus Coleman.
Instead, the 53-year-old was left shaking his head by the fare on offer.
“It was terrible,” blasted Collins. “The display on the pitch was very poor and so was the crowd. It was embarrassing.
“The final was just par for the course, unfortunately. But it’s not until you bring someone in from another jurisdiction and to discuss it, that it hits home.
“John (Still) said not one of the Derry or St Pat’s players would get into his Luton team. And they’re in the English fourth division.
“People have this perception that we have players in the League of Ireland that could walk into Championship clubs. But we’re a little bit deluded.
“You get the odd one — there is one kid gone to Hull (Brian Lenihan, formerly of Cork City) now and again, but for what was on display in the cup final, I was disappointed.
“There was very little atmosphere there. When you go to Croke Park and see a full house for All-Ireland hurling and football finals, and you go to Lansdowne Road yesterday and not even 17,000 people there. It’s really depressing.”
Reaction to the rant was swift, with former Arsenal trainee O’Donnell, who lifted the Premier League trophy for Dundalk 11 days ago, moving to undermine the opinion of the pair.
“Roddy Collins and John Still, two gurus of the game, you would be better off with Stevie Wonder at it!” he tweeted.
Ger O’Brien, the St Pat’s skipper, was equally scathing of the assessment, using his personal Twitter account to belt out: “Would you ever go an f**k off with your LUTON TOWN.”
Whatever of his view on the final, concerns raised by Collins on facilities around the grounds and the continual teenage talent drain to the UK went unchallenged. Even the Saints’ Irish international Keith Fahey admitted last week that some of the venues “hadn’t got a lick of paint” since he left for Birmingham City in six years ago.
“The facilities are disastrous,” said Collins. “There are clubs in the league — I won’t name them, because good people run these clubs — haven’t changed tiles in their dressing rooms in the 30 years I’ve been involved in the game. The same problems exist and it needs much better administration.”
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