'I am going nowhere' - Roddy commits to league leaders Athlone Town

ATHLONE Town manager Roddy Collins has today committed his future to the club.

Speculation had been mounting over recent days that Collins’ former employers, Bohemians, were keen to speak with him about the possibility of becoming their first-team manager. This followed the departure from Bohemians of former Athlone Town manager, Aaron Callaghan, over two weeks ago.

Collins today confirmed to the Westmeath Independent that although Athlone Town FC officials had granted permission for him to speak to Bohemians, he is committed to remaining with Athlone and to trying to help the club to promotion to the Airtricity League Premier Division.

Though nothing has been signed in relation to next season, Collins also intimated that he would be happy to remain with Athlone for the 2014 season and possibly beyond.

It has been 18 years since Athlone played in the top division of Irish football but they went to the top of the First Division last weekend following a 1-1 draw at Waterford Utd (see Wednesday’s Westmeath Independent for match report).

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent today (Monday), Collins said: “I was honoured that a club like Bohemians considered me to be their manager but I am very happy with Athlone. I met the chairman John Hayden and the secretary David Dully on Saturday night to discuss the situation (the Bohemians approach) and Athlone’s ambitions for the future and I was very happy with the result of the meeting. I gave my word at the start of the season that I would stay with Athlone and I want to quash all the speculation in fairness to Athlone Town, Bohemians, my players and the Athlone supporters. There is huge potential with Athlone but we’re going to need the people of Athlone to come to our games and support us in order to get the club where it could go.”

For more from Roddy Collins on his decision to stick with Athlone and on transfers before Wednesday’s transfer deadline, see this week’s Westmeath Independent.