Roddy aims high as he looks forward to new era

Last updated : 24 January 2002 By Al Woodcock
Roddy Collins
Collins is looking forward to a new era
Roddy Collins says he will quit if he can't lift United into the First Division within new owner John Courtenay's five-year time frame.

Collins is expected to receive a five-year contract and a new budget for bringing in players in the wake of the Courtenay takeover, which should be rubber stamped within a couple of weeks.

The outspoken Irishman has found it hard going to win over the supporters and only with a recent run of three wins and a draw in four games which has lifted the Cumbrians out of immediate relegation danger has his stock risen appreciably. Now he has the prospect of increased funds and job security as he attempts to kick-start a new era at Brunton Park.

But Collins has set himself a tough standard and admits he'll walk away if he's ultimately found wanting.

"If I couldn't do it, I would be a failure and I would expect people to be shouting Collins out instead of Knighton out," he said. "I'm not here to put in the hours and pick up my wages, I am very ambitious and it's a dual partnership between John and I to take the club forward. I couldn't have the chance to work for a better man and it is brilliant news he is taking over.

"We have a three-year period to win the league. The first year is consolidation, the second year is to compete and, if you go up, it's a major bonus, and the third year is to win the league. All we need are two or three more players and the takeover means we can bring new players in, freshen things up and have a good crack at things.

"We can move forward now and I have a lot of ideas and players in mind who could raise us to another level. We have a good squad but it isn't a big squad. There are only four or five players we can call on and it puts people under pressure. I've already started building the squad up now."

Collins has his eye on the Bohemians pair of Trevor Molloy and Brian Shelley who are both out of contract in the summer and who recently attended the Carlisle-Leyton Orient match, seemingly without the knowledge of their club. He has also been linked with striker Glen Crowe but the Irish international may be out of his reach despite Courtenay's investment plans.

His first move is likely to be for Bournemouth's Garreth O'Connor who he is hoping to sign on loan but only if the PFA lift their transfer embargo. John Courtenay is expected to repay the loan that United took out shortly and that should allow Collins back into the transfer market.

£25,000 fine for Cumbrians

United have been fined £25,000 for fielding winger Sean Friars against Mansfield Town last November while he was ineligible.

However the news will come as a relief to the club who have escaped a potential points penalty. Friars was registered to play for the reserves in the Avon Insurance League but was not eligible for Football League games. However the authorities have taken a relatively lenient line and the fine should not present too much of a problem for new owner John Courtenay to pay.

Last season West Ham fielded an ineligible player in Manny Omoyinmi, now with Oxford United, during a League Cup tie against Aston Villa. The Hammers won the game and were ordered to replay and eventually lost.