Roddy Collins Autobiography

I would certainly take anything in that book with a pinch of salt. Especially anything he says about JC as he is sadly no longer here to defend himself.

Aye, will certainly be an interesting read, but can imagine it’ll be very Roddy-tinted!

Extra large pinch of salt needed for anything he says about his time as Carlisle manager. I liked him at first, but he created a terrible team on a hefty budget for transfer fees and wages. Fitness levels of the players left a little bit to be desired, have heard rumours that players may have been consuming alcohol in public houses more than was desirable.

Maybe someone can correct me but I can remember being lineman is behind closed doors game where we played Durham, and got beat and we were awful and I’m sure Roddy had just turned up - could be wrong and memory failing me.

Roddy made two great decisions in his reign getting Courtney to get Knighton out and another getting Simmo - both things turned the club around.

As for Roddy he was awful wasn’t he, but it was entertaining in what was a dreadful period.

Entertaining? No.

Embarrassing? Yes.

He was a clown. John Courtenay wasn’t much better!

I wonder if he mentions the bullying of players on high salaries which he wanted off the wage bill. The throwing bricks through their house windows and threatening their wives and partners, the alleged thefts of club funds and assets, the physical assaults on players and staff, the drinking culture he cultivated, a boozy trip to Ireland mid-season which included a trashed hotel, prostitutes and players brawling with each other... these are just some of the crazy antics that went on during his watch. Proper Sunday league stuff!

Finished this recently. Good read overall as he has no filter. I didn’t like his attitude towards Simmo.basically suggesting ‘ He replaced me then got the club relegated and didn’t amount to much’
Interesting on his time here he mentioned a brawl with Foran but places huge blame on Courteney for creating a boozing culture and that JC would be regularly rounding up the players to go boozing etc. Roddy suggested throughout the book he rarely drank himself.
He also blamed his soured relationship with Courtney (and JC’s relationship with the FAI head John Delaney) for his struggles to get jobs in Ireland.

The book on Delany's reign at the FAI is a great book - eye opening to say the least.