I’M YOUR MAN!
Collins eyes top job after Gray’s York axe
YORK CITY caretaker boss Sam Collins has thrown his hat into the ring for the permanent manager’s job at Bootham Crescent following the shock sacking of Martin Gray this week.
Youth-team chief Collins, who has taken temporary charge of Hartlepool United on three separate occasions in the past, took over team affairs for yesterday’s 0-0 draw with Brackley Town, alongside his former Pools team-mate Stuart Parnaby.
City sporting director Dave Penney insists that 41-year-old Collins is “very much” in the running for the full-time vacancy and the former HudWe’re dersfield, Hull, Port Vale and Bury defender, who joined the club from his role as development coach at Bradford City in the summer, would like to be considered. “I’d definitely be interested,” Collins said. “I’ve played against York City in League One when people I know, like Jon McCarthy, were here, so I know what a big club this is and there aren’t many better at this level that you could get an opportunity to take over as manager. “I’ve been coaching for more than 12 years now and it has always been in my mind, going back to my playing days, that I’d like to be a manager one day so, hopefully, it goes well, and we can have another conversation and, if I get asked the question, I’ll have a decision to make.”
Gray was axed just hours after last Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Curzon Ashton, just five games and 15 days into the new season and with York sitting eighth in National League North.
Unrest
Penney, who previously worked alongside Gray at Darlington and Oldham, admitted the decision to axe his old mate wasn’t taken lightly but told the York Press: “It came down to a culmination of things and results were a big factor.
“You can make stats work in whichever way you want but, taking into account the end of last season, we’ve won two of our last 12 games.
“The performances haven’t been good enough either and have led to unrest among supporters.
“We gave Martin a chance to bring his own players in during the summer to see if there was an improvement, but we don’t think there has been. “We sat down as a board and talked about the situation on Saturday after the game, thought about it more that night and, then, felt we made the best decision for York City in the morning. eight points off the top and we’re not happy about [it].”
Collins, however, has strong competition for the full-time job with Hyde United boss Darren Kelly, a former York City player, and former Chorley boss Matt Jansen, both in the running.
Former Brentford and Birmingham City caretaker chief Lee Carsley is another fancied, along with ex-Barrow boss Micky Moore and former Bootham Crescent favourite Dave McGurk.
Penney added: “We’re not putting an advert out, but you are always mindful of what’s out there when people make it known that they are interested. Results will dictate whether we go down that route though.”