Barnsley FC appoint former Sheffield United defender Neill Collins as new head coach
Barnsley have named Neill Collins as their new head coach, handing the former Sheffield United defender his first top job in English football.
Collins has signed a two-year deal to succeed Michael Duff, who left the League One club for Swansea City of the Championship, shortly after guiding the Reds to the play-off final.
Collins played 216 times for the Blades before finishing his playing career in the United States with Tampa Bay Rowdies.
He started his managerial career with the Rowdies in 2018.
for supporting me in exploring this opportunity. Without all the staff and players’ incredible hard work
this would not have been possible.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be stepping back in to the EFL and even more so to be joining a club of this stature. Everything I do will be aimed at repaying the faith shown in me by the owners and Khaled and of course giving the Barnsley faithful a team that they can be proud of.
“I am fortunate to be working with a squad that just achieved a play-off final but understand there is a lot of work to be done if we want to replicate that success and go a step further.
Barnsley FC CEO, Khaled El-Ahmad, added: “We are happy to be able to bring Neill to Oakwell to work with our staff and continue upon the foundation we implemented at the start of the last campaign.
“The primary focus is now allowing Neill to settle in and begin to build relationships with the staff and players at Oakwell and commence preparations for the upcoming season.”
Now 39, the one-time Scotland B international was appointed manager of the Rowdies upon handing up his boots five years ago.
In thr Covid-interrupted 2020 season the Rowdies finished top of the USL table and reached the final of the resulting play-offs, only for the final to be called off due to Covid infections amongst members of his side.
