Neill Collins

Scottish football player and manager (born 1983)

For those of a similar name, see Neil Collins (disambiguation).

Neill Collins

Collins during the Jody Craddock testimonial match in May 2014

Personal information
Full name|  Neill William Collins[1]
Date of birth|  (1983-09-02) 2 September 1983 (age 41)[2]
Place of birth|  Troon, Scotland[2]
Height|  6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[3]
Position(s)|  Centre-back
Team information

Current team

|  Sacramento Republic (manager)
Youth career
|  Kilmarnock
Senior career*
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
2001–2002|  Queen's Park|  32|  (0)
2002–2004|  Dumbarton|  63|  (4)
2004–2007|  Sunderland|  18|  (1)
2005–2006|  → Hartlepool United (loan)|  22|  (0)
2006|  → Sheffield United (loan)|  2|  (0)
2006–2007|  → Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan)|  3|  (1)
2007–2009|  Wolverhampton Wanderers|  81|  (8)
2009–2010|  → Preston North End (loan)|  16|  (0)
2010|  Preston North End|  5|  (1)
2010|  → Leeds United (loan)|  9|  (0)
2010–2011|  Leeds United|  21|  (0)
2011–2016|  Sheffield United|  177|  (12)
2015|  → Port Vale (loan)|  7|  (0)
2016–2018|  Tampa Bay Rowdies|  61|  (3)
Total|  |  517|  (30)
International career
2005|  Scotland U21|  7|  (0)
2007|  Scotland B|  1|  (0)
Managerial career
2018–2023|  Tampa Bay Rowdies
2023–2024|  Barnsley
2024|  Raith Rovers
2025–|  Sacramento Republic
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Neill William Collins (born 2 September 1983) is a Scottish football manager and former player who is the head coach of USL Championship club Sacramento Republic.

Collins is a former Scotland U21 and Scotland B international who played as a centre-back. He started his playing career with Queen's Park before moving to Dumbarton. A transfer to English side Sunderland followed in 2004, but he failed to establish himself in the first team during his three-year spell on Wearside. After loan moves to Hartlepool United and Sheffield United, he was loaned to Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he became a first-team regular and signed a permanent deal in 2007. Following Wolves' promotion to the Premier League, he fell out of favour and moved on loan again, this time to Preston North End. Still, although they signed him permanently in 2010, he was never a regular. He quickly moved to Leeds United, with whom he won promotion to the Championship in 2010. After losing his place the following season, Collins returned to Sheffield United, one of his former loan clubs, where he made over 100 appearances. He lost his first-team place in the 2014–15 season and joined Port Vale on loan in March 2015. He moved to America in March 2016 to play for the Tampa Bay Rowdies. By the end of his 18-year playing career, he had scored 35 goals in 583 league and cup appearances.

He took his first post in management in May 2018 when he transitioned from player to head coach at the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The 2021 season would prove highly successful as he won two USL Championship Coach of the Month awards, as well as the Coach of the Year award, as his side won the Eastern Conference and went on to finish as runners-up in the playoffs. He returned to England as the head coach of Barnsley in July 2023 and was sacked with one game left to play of the 2023–24 season with his team in the League One play-off places. He was appointed as the head coach of Raith Rovers in September 2024.

## Club career

[edit]

### Queen's Park

[edit]

Collins was born in Troon, Scotland. He was associated with Kilmarnock's youth academy, the team he supported as a boy before being released at the age of 14.[4] He began his career with Scottish amateur club, Queen's Park, making his first-team debut in a 2–0 win at Stirling Albion on 24 March 2001.[5] He went on to make four appearances in the 2000–01 season as John McCormack's Spiders were relegated from the Second Division to the Third Division. He played 31 games as Queen's Park finished bottom of the Scottish Football League in 2001–02. During this time he worked at a Safeway supermarket.[6]

### Dumbarton

[edit]

Collins earned a move to newly-promoted Second Division club Dumbarton in July 2002.[7] During his stay at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium, Collins became popular with the fans and had a spell as captain and was key to Paul Martin's Sons battle to stay in the Second Division in 2002–03. He then featured 34 times as Dumbarton finished two points outside the promotion places in 2003–04 under Brian Fairley's stewardship. During his time there he had trials with Falkirk, Hibernian, Rangers and Charlton Athletic.[8][9] During his time in Scotland he also completed a BA 'Sport in the Community' degree at the University of Strathclyde.[10]

### Sunderland

[edit]

Collins was signed by Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy in August 2004 for a fee of £25,000.[11] Three months later he signed a new contract to keep him at the Stadium of Light until 2007.[12] He made 11 appearances during the 2004–05 season as the club won promotion to the Premier League as champions of the Championship.

He never appeared in the top-flight for the Black Cats after Alan Stubbs was signed and was instead loaned out to League One side Hartlepool United in August 2005.[13] He made 25 appearances for Martin Scott's Pools during his stay at Victoria Park. He was loaned out to Neil Warnock's Championship promotion hopefuls Sheffield United in February 2006.[14] The Blades succeeded in winning promotion in 2005–06, though Collins featured in just two games at Bramall Lane.

With Sunderland back in the Championship in 2006–07, Collins was forced to play in the unfamiliar role of right-back after injuries to teammates Stephen Wright and Nyron Nosworthy. He was a regular under Mick McCarthy, but when McCarthy left the job, Collins was dropped by replacement manager Roy Keane despite Collins feeling he'd performed well.[15]

### Wolves

[edit]

Collins was reunited with his former boss Mick McCarthy at Wolverhampton Wanderers after joining the club on loan in November 2006.[16] The discussion of his loan deal was the first time that Roy Keane and McCarthy had spoken to each other since the Saipan incident in 2002.[17] After his loan expired, he joined Wolves permanently in January 2007 for a fee of £150,000.[18] He was a regular starter for the rest of the 2006–07 season as the club reached the Championship play-offs.

The 2007–08 season saw Wolves miss out on the play-offs on goal difference with Collins making 42 appearances. Collins started 2008–09 strongly with Wolves but was left out of the first-team with the loan arrival of Michael Mancienne from Chelsea.[19] When Mancienne returned to Chelsea in the New Year, Collins returned to the side, partnering Richard Stearman. He contributed several important goals during this period. Still, he was soon ousted from the side again after receiving a red card for dissent at Reading and following the addition of Scottish international Christophe Berra. He remained out of the side for the remainder of the season as the club were promoted to the Premier League as champions and was transfer listed in July 2009.

### Preston North End

[edit]

In September 2009, Collins was loaned out to Championship side Preston North End, a move made permanent when he signed a three-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee in January 2010.[20][21] The deal was finalised after manager Alan Irvine left the club. The defender lost his place in the side under new manager Darren Ferguson.

### Leeds United

[edit]

In March 2010, Collins moved to League One side Leeds United on loan for the rest of the 2009–10 season as a replacement for the injured Patrick Kisnorbo.[22] He played an instrumental part as Leeds were promoted to the Championship after finishing in second place in League One. He signed a three-year deal with Leeds in July 2010 for an undisclosed fee.[23]

He started the 2010–11 season as one of Leeds' first-choice defenders due to Patrick Kisnorbo still being out with a long-term injury. After some indifferent performances early on in the season, Collins scored an own goal in Leeds' 5–2 defeat by Barnsley and was dropped to the bench by manager Simon Grayson at the end of October.

### Sheffield United

[edit]

Collins playing for Sheffield United in 2013

Collins signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Championship side Sheffield United after being signed by Micky Adams for an undisclosed fee in January 2011.[24] He made his debut in a 3–0 defeat to Ipswich Town at Portman Road on 5 February. He was a regular in defence for the remainder of the 2010–11 season, playing 14 games, but struggled as the team undertook an ultimately unsuccessful battle against relegation; he later said that "ill discipline was rife at the club on and off the pitch" and "I tried to be like Roy of the Rovers and Terry Butcher rolled into one and it didn't go well".[25]

Now in League One and under the stewardship of Danny Wilson, the 2011–12 campaign saw Collins establish an effective defensive partnership with fellow centre-back Harry Maguire, and he was awarded supporters Player of the Month for September 2011.[26] He scored his first goal for the Blades in February 2012, in a 1–0 victory over Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town at the Galpharm Stadium.[27] Collins remained a mainstay of the defence but United missed out on automatic promotion by three points to city rivals Sheffield Wednesday, then lost to Huddersfield in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium; the match ended in a 0–0 draw, and though Collins converted his penalty his team lost the shoot-out 8–7.[28]

With the club still in League One, Collins remained as first-choice in central defence alongside Maguire, captaining the side during Michael Doyle's absence. During the first half of the 2012–13 season, Collins began to score regularly, netting five times by the start of December as United challenged for automatic promotion. In November, he extended his current contract by two more years until 2015, with the option of another year.[29] His good form was halted when he fractured his cheekbone during a game against Scunthorpe United at the end of December, an injury that ruled him out of action for two months.[30] He made 45 appearances across the campaign as United recorded a club record 21 clean sheets; however, they could only reach the play-off semi-finals.[31]

He scored two goals in 55 appearances in the 2013–14 season and was named on the Football League Team of the Week after helping United to consecutive 1–0 victories away at Colchester United and Milton Keynes Dons as part of a total run of 450 minutes of League One football that the team went without conceding a goal.[32]

He lost his place in the United first-team early in the 2014–15 season and dropped out of manager Nigel Clough's first-team plans, having failed to make an appearance past October.[33] Despite this he vowed to remain at the club, saying he enjoyed a connection with the club.[34] He joined League One rivals Port Vale on loan until the end of the season on 26 March 2015.[35] Manager Rob Page signed him on transfer deadline day and Collins later said that "I had a difficult start... but I grew into the season, we stayed up and I really enjoyed it".[36]

Following Nigel Clough's departure as manager, Collins was restored to the first-team under new boss Nigel Adkins for the 2015–16 season.[37] He was named in the Football League Team of the Week after scoring a headed goal in a 2–0 victory at Swindon Town, winning praise for his centre-back partnership with David Edgar.[38]

### Tampa Bay Rowdies

[edit]

On 11 March 2016, Collins had his contract with Sheffield United cancelled by mutual consent to allow him to sign a two-year contract with the North American Soccer League's Tampa Bay Rowdies.[39][40] Head coach Stuart Campbell led the Rowdies to a ninth-place finish in the combined 2016 table. He featured 33 times in the 2017 campaign as the Rowdies finished third in the United Soccer League.

## International career

[edit]

Collins won seven caps at Scotland under-21 level.[41] On 20 November 2007, he played for Scotland B in a 1–1 draw with Republic of Ireland B at the Excelsior Stadium; he came on as a substitute for Darren Dods at half-time.[42]

## Coaching career

[edit]

### Tampa Bay Rowdies

[edit]

On 18 May 2018, Collins was promoted to manager at the Tampa Bay Rowdies[43] after he impressed chairman Bill Edwards with his intensity and work ethic.[44] The Rowdies went on to finish the 2018 season 12th in the USL Eastern Conference table under difficult circumstances, with Collins commenting that "We had players retiring for a variety of reasons, guys getting serious injuries, other off-field problems, it was one thing after another."[45] They finished fifth in the 2019 season, before losing 2–1 to Louisville City FC in the Conference quarter-finals.[46] The Rowdies finished top of the table in the 2020 season, which was brought to an early end and decided on points per game due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The play-offs continued and Tampa made it to the Championship final against Phoenix Rising FC. However, the final was cancelled the day before it was due to be played because several Tampa Bay Rowdies players and staff tested positive for COVID-19; the championship would not be awarded.[47]

Collins was named USL Championship Coach of the Year after his team achieved 23 wins to top the Eastern Conference in the 2021 regular season.[48] He was also named as Coach of the Month for April / May and September, having achieved 100% win records in both periods and setting a league record of 891 minutes without conceding a goal.[49][50] In the playoffs, Tampa defeated FC Tulsa, Birmingham Legion FC and Louisville City FC, before falling to a 3–1 defeat to Orange County SC in the final.[51]

He was named as Coach of the Month for July 2022 after overseeing five wins that extended the club's unbeaten run to 13 games; he credited the run to his players, name-checking new signing Jake LaCava.[52] The Rowdies qualified for the play-offs with a third-place finish in the 2022 Eastern Conference standings; they went on to lose the Conference final game with a 1–0 loss to Louisville City FC.[53]

### Barnsley

[edit]

On 6 July 2023, Collins returned to England when he was appointed head coach of League One club Barnsley on a two-year deal.[54] He oversaw a 7–0 victory over Port Vale in his first game in charge, the biggest opening day defeat for any team in the EFL since the 1962–63 season over 60 years ago.[55] His side maintained a top six position from 3 October until his departure.[56] On 22 April 2024, Collins was sacked following a disappointing run of form with Barnsley in the play-off places in fifth position with one match remaining of the 2023–24 season.[57]

### Raith Rovers

[edit]

On 3 September 2024, Collins signed a three-year contract to become head coach of Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers,[58] replacing Ian Murray.[59]

### Sacramento Republic

[edit]

On 21 December 2024, Collins left Raith Rovers to take charge of Sacramento Republic FC in the USL Championship.[60] Republic activated the compensation clause in Neill's contract to exercise the option.

## Style of play

[edit]

Writing in The Guardian in 2007, Steve Claridge compared Collins to Tony Adams, describing him as "strong and robust" with good positional and organisation skills.[61] Collins described heading as the strongest part of his game.[3]

## Career statistics

[edit]

### Playing statistics

[edit]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition  Club  | Season  | League  | National cup  | League cup  | Other  | Total

|
|
|
|
|
|

Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals
Queen's Park | 2000–01[62] | Scottish Second Division | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0
2001–02[63] | Scottish Third Division | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0
Total  | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0
Dumbarton | 2002–03[64] | Scottish Second Division | 33 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 38 | 2
2003–04[65] | Scottish Second Division | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 34 | 2
Total  | 63 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 72 | 4
Sunderland | 2004–05[66] | Championship | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 14 | 0
2005–06[67] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 1
2006–07[68] | Championship | 7 | 1 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 8 | 1
Total  | 18 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 24 | 2
Hartlepool United (loan) | 2005–06[67] | League One | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 25 | 0
Sheffield United (loan) | 2005–06[67] | Championship | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0
Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2006–07[68] | Championship | 22 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 27 | 2
2007–08[69] | Championship | 39 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 42 | 4
2008–09[70] | Championship | 23 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 27 | 4
2009–10[71] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0
Total  | 84 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 97 | 10
Preston North End | 2009–10[71] | Championship | 21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 22 | 1
Leeds United | 2009–10[71] | League One | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0
2010–11[72] | Championship | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 23 | 0
Total  | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 32 | 0
Sheffield United | 2010–11[72] | Championship | 14 | 0 | — | — | — | 14 | 0
2011–12[73] | League One | 42 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6[b][c] | 0 | 54 | 2
2012–13[74] | League One | 39 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2[c] | 0 | 45 | 5
2013–14[75] | League One | 44 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 55 | 2
2014–15[76] | League One | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 12 | 1
2015–16[77] | League One | 30 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 4
Total  | 177 | 12 | 18 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 214 | 14
Port Vale (loan) | 2014–15[76] | League One | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0
Tampa Bay Rowdies | 2016[78] | NASL | 22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 1
2017[78] | USL | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[d] | 0 | 33 | 2
2018[78] | USL | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0
Total  | 61 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 67 | 3
Career total  | 517 | 30 | 38 | 2 | 22 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 597 | 34

1. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Scottish Challenge Cup
2. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
3. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in play-offs
4. ^ Appearances in USL Cup playoffs

### Managerial statistics

[edit]

As of match played 28 June 2025
Managerial record by team and tenure  Team  | From  | To  | Record

|
|
|

P | W | D | L | Win %
Tampa Bay Rowdies | 18 May 2018  | 8 July 2023  | 176 | 97 | 34 | 45 | 055.1
Barnsley | 9 July 2023  | 22 April 2024  | 52 | 24 | 14 | 14 | 046.2
Raith Rovers | 3 September 2024  | 21 December 2024  | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 040.0
Sacramento Republic | 21 December 2024  | present  | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 038.9
Total  | 261 | 134 | 56 | 71 | 051.3

## Honours

[edit]

### Player

[edit]

Sunderland

* Football League Championship: 2004–05

Wolverhampton Wanderers

* Football League Championship: 2008–09

Leeds United

* Football League One second-place promotion: 2009–10

### Manager

[edit]

Individual

* USL Championship Coach of the Month: April / May 2021, September 2021, July 2022[49][50][52]
* USL Championship Coach of the Year: 2021[48]

Tampa Bay Rowdies

* USL Championship
* finalist: 2020[a]
* Regular Season Division Champion: 2020, 2021
* Eastern Conference Champion: 2020, 2021[48]
* Regular Season Champion: 2021
* Playoff runner-up: 2021[51]
* Coastal Cup: 2021

1. ^ Championship game canceled due to COVID-19 outbreak in the Rowdies camp.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Neill Collins". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
2. ^ a b "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2014/2015". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
3. ^ a b The Art of Heading neillcollins.com
4. ^ "Collins relishes dream game". Express and Star. 25 July 2008. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
5. ^ Berry, Gavin (1 November 2020). "Scot Neill Collins takes charge of Tampa Bay Rowdies in showpiece game". Daily Record. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
6. ^ "Neill Collins' career so far". Barnsley Chronicle. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
7. ^ McAllister, Jim (2002). The Sons of the Rock - The Official History of Dumbarton Football Club. Dumbarton: J&J Robertson Printers.
8. ^ "Sara fails to win move". BBC Sport. 25 March 2003. Retrieved 25 March 2003.
9. ^ "Charlton want Collins". BBC Sport. 21 April 2003. Retrieved 21 April 2003.
10. ^ About Me Archived 28 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine neillcollins.com
11. ^ "Player of the Day: Neill Collins". safc.com. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
12. ^ "Collins pens Sunderland extension". BBC Sport. 24 November 2004. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
13. ^ "Collins joins Hartlepool on loan". BBC Sport. 12 August 2005. Retrieved 12 August 2005.
14. ^ "Sheff Utd sign defender Collins". BBC Sport. 18 February 2006. Retrieved 18 February 2006.
15. ^ Lyall, Jamie (4 January 2020). "Neill Collins: Roy Keane, Joe Cole & managing in Florida". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
16. ^ "Wolves loan Black Cat". Sky Sports. 2 November 2006. Retrieved 2 November 2006.
17. ^ Keane, Roy (2014). The Second Half. Orion. p. 148\. ISBN 9780297608882.
18. ^ "Sunderland's Collins joins Wolves". BBC Sport. 5 January 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2007.
19. ^ "Dropping Collins hurt - Mick". Express & Star. 18 November 2008. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
20. ^ "Collins ties up move to Preston". BBC Sport. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
21. ^ "Preston North End sign Wolverhampton's Neill Collins". BBC Sport. 5 January 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
22. ^ "Leeds sign Preston defender Neill Collins on loan". BBC Sport. 23 March 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
23. ^ "Preston defender Neill Collins joins Leeds United". BBC Sport. 7 July 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
24. ^ "Neill Collins leaves Leeds United for Sheffield United". BBC Sport. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
25. ^ The phone is not ringing neillcollins.com
26. ^ "Neill nets monthly award at the Lane". The Sheffield Star. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
27. ^ "Huddersfield Town Sheffield United". BBC Sport. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
28. ^ "Huddersfield 0 - 0 Sheffield United". 26 May 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
29. ^ "Sheffield United defender Neill Collins extends contract". BBC Sport. 9 November 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
30. ^ "Shaun Miller out for the season". BBC Sport. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
31. ^ Only as good as your strikers neillcollins.com
32. ^ "Sky Bet Football League Team of the Week 24/02/14 - 02/03/14". www.efl.com. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
33. ^ "Rob Page says treble signing shows Vale aim to finish season in style". The Sentinel. 26 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
34. ^ "Sheffield United: Neill Collins breaks his silence". Sheffield Telegraph. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
35. ^ "Collins, Junior and Coulibaly make move to Port Vale on loan". BBC Sport. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
36. ^ "Collins 'can't wait' for opener against former club and coach". Barnsley Chronicle. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
37. ^ "Neill Collins set for Blades chance as manager Nigel Adkins wipes slate clean". Sheffield Telegraph. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
38. ^ Butcher, Alex (1 September 2015). "Sky Bet Football League Team of the Week". www.efl.com. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
39. ^ "Veteran Defender Neill Collins Joins Tampa Bay Rowdies". RowdiesSoccer.com. 11 March 2016. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
40. ^ "Neill heads Stateside". SUFC.co.uk. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
41. ^ McLaughlin, Lee (11 February 2007). "Neill: I'd really like to play in the Park again". Sunday Mercury. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
42. ^ Lindsay, Clive (20 November 2007). "Scotland B 1-1 Rep of Ireland B". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
43. ^ Neill Collins: Roy Keane, Joe Cole & managing in Florida, BBC Sport, 4 January 2020
44. ^ Kennedy, Will (18 May 2018). "Rowdies transition defender Neill Collins to head coach". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
45. ^ "Paul Berry: Neill Collins putting the art of timing into practice having learnt from the best". Express and Star. 1 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
46. ^ "Louisville City FC vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies - July 26, 2019 | USLChampionship.com". www.uslchampionship.com. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
47. ^ "USL Championship final Cancelled, Season Concludes with Tampa Bay, Phoenix as Conference Title-Winners". USLChampionship.com. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
48. ^ a b c "Tampa Bay's Neill Collins Voted Championship's Coach of the Year". USL Championship. 27 November 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
49. ^ a b "Tampa Bay's Collins Voted Championship's Coach of the Month". USL Championship. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
50. ^ a b "Tampa Bay's Neill Collins Voted Championship's Coach of the Month". USL Championship. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
51. ^ a b "Match Center | USLChampionship.com". www.uslchampionship.com. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
52. ^ a b USLChampionship com Staff (10 August 2022). "Tampa Bay Rowdies' Neill Collins voted USL Championship Coach of the Month". USL Championship. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
53. ^ "Match Center | USLChampionship.com". www.uslchampionship.com. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
54. ^ "Neill Collins Appointed As Head Coach". www.barnsleyfc.co.uk. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
55. ^ Youlton, Clive (5 August 2023). "Disastrous opening day for Port Vale as Barnsley hit seven". StokeonTrentLive.
56. ^ "Neill Collins: Barnsley sack head coach with one game to play". BBC Sport. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
57. ^ "Neill Collins Departs Oakwell". Barnsley F.C. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
58. ^ Fowlie, Grace (3 September 2024). "Welcome, Neil Collins!". Raith Rovers FC. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
59. ^ "Neil Collins: Raith Rovers appoint former Barnsley boss as manager". BBC Sport. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
60. ^ "Manager Collins leaves Raith to join Sacramento Republic". BBC Sport. 21 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
61. ^ Claridge, Steve (13 March 2007). "Neill Collins, Wolverhampton Wanderers". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
62. ^ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
63. ^ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
64. ^ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
65. ^ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
66. ^ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
67. ^ a b c "Games played by Neill Collins in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
68. ^ a b "Games played by Neill Collins in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
69. ^ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
70. ^ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
71. ^ a b c "Games played by Neill Collins in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
72. ^ a b "Games played by Neill Collins in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
73. ^ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
74. ^ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
75. ^ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
76. ^ a b "Games played by Neill Collins in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
77. ^ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
78. ^ a b c Neill Collins at Soccerway

* v
* t
* e

Current head coaches in the USL Championship

Eastern Conference|

* Soehn (Birmingham Legion FC)
* Pirmann (Charleston Battery)
* Dichio (Detroit City FC)
* Burke (Hartford Athletic)
* McAuley (Indy Eleven)
* Martin (Loudoun United FC)
* Cruz (Louisville City FC)
* Alves (Miami FC) (interim)
* Bradford (North Carolina FC)
* Lilley (Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC)
* Smith (Rhode Island FC)
* Vacant (Tampa Bay Rowdies)

Western Conference|

* Chambers (Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC)
* Cabrera (El Paso Locomotive FC)
* Nocerino (Las Vegas Lights FC)
* Boss (Lexington SC)
* Stewart (Monterey Bay FC)
* Sanchez (New Mexico United)
* Glinton (Oakland Roots SC)
* Stone (Orange County SC)
* Kah (Phoenix Rising FC)
* Collins (Sacramento Republic FC)
* Llamosa (San Antonio FC)
* Spencer (FC Tulsa)

Future expansion|

* Vacant (Brooklyn FC)

Managerial positions

* v
* t
* e

Tampa Bay Rowdies – head coaches

* Dalglish (2009–10)
* Van der Beck (2010)
* Hill (2011–14)
* Rongen (2014–15)
* Campbell (2015–18)
* Collins (2018–23)
* Dobson (interim) (2023)
* Law (2023)
* Neilson (2024–)

* v
* t
* e

Barnsley F.C. – managers

* Fairclough (1898–1901)
* McCartney (1901–04)
* Fairclough (1904–12)
* Hastie (1912–14)
* Lewis (1914–19)
* Sant (1919–26)
* Commins (1926–28)
* Fairclough (1928–30)
* Fletcher (1930–37)
* Seed (1937–53)
* Ward (1953–60)
* Steele (1960–71)
* McSeveney (1971–72)
* Steele (1972–73)
* Iley (1973–78)
* Clarke (1978–80)
* Hunter (1980–84)
* Collins (1984–85)
* Clarke (1985–89)
* Machin (1989–93)
* Anderson (1993–94)
* Wilson (1994–98)
* Hendrie (1998–99)
* Winstanley (1999)
* Bassett (1999–2000)
* Winstanley (2000–01)
* Spackman (2001)
* Hodges (2001)
* Parkin (2001–02)
* Hodges (2002–03)
* Thordarson (2003–04)
* Hart (2004–05)
* Ritchie (2005–06)
* Davey (2006–09)
* Robins (2009–11)
* Hill (2011–12)
* Flitcroft (2012–13)
* Wilson (2013–15)
* Heckingbottomc (2015)
* Johnson (2015–16)
* Heckingbottom (2016–18)
* Harsleyc (2018)
* Morais (2018)
* Stendel (2018–19)
* Struber (2019–20)
* Ismaël (2020–21)
* Schopp (2021)
* Laumannc (2021)
* Asbaghi (2021–22)
* Devaneyc (2022)
* Duff (2022–23)
* Collins (2023–24)
* Devaneyc (2024)
* Clarke (2024–25)
* Hourihane (2025–)

(c) = caretaker manager

* v
* t
* e

Raith Rovers F.C. – managers

* Hodge (1907–12)
* Tod (1912–13)
* Richardson (1913–16)
* Hodge (1916–19)
* Logan (1919–26)
* G. Wilson (1926–27)
* Birrell (1927–30)
* Logan (1930–33)
* Bennie (1933–34)
* Archibald (1934–39)
* Reekie (1939–45)
* Herdman (1945–61)
* Shaw (1961–62)
* Conn (1962–63)
* Cowie (1963–64)
* Farm (1964–67)
* Walker (1967–69)
* Millar (1969–70)
* Baxter (1970–71)
* Farm (1971–74)
* Paton (1974–75)
* Matthew (1975–78)
* W. McLean (1978–79)
* Wallace (1979–83)
* B. Wilson (1983–86)
* Connor (1986–90)
* Nicholl (1990–96)
* Thomson (1996)
* T. McLean (1996)
* Munro (1996–97)
* Nicholl (1997–99)
* McVeigh (1999)
* Hetherston (1999–2001)
* Scott (2001–02)
* Calderón (2002–04)
* Anelka (2004)
* Dalziel (2004–06)
* Levein (2006)
* McGlynn (2006–12)
* G. Murray (2012–15)
* McKinnon (2015–16)
* Locke (2016–17)
* Hughes (2017)
* Smith (2017–18)
* McGlynn (2018–22)
* I. Murray (2022–24)
* Collins (2024)
* Robson (2024–)

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals
*[P]: Matches played
*[W]: Matches won
*[D]: Matches drawn
*[L]: Matches lost
*[Win %]: Win percentage
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template