Collins returns as consultant amid English club's financial rescue
Roddy Collins has returned to English football as a football consultant with Ebbsfleet United in the National League South – the sixth tier of the game in England, just as the club emerges from a July winding‑up order and a suspension that followed three postponed fixtures.
New ownership resolves tax crisis
The club was served with a winding‑up order in July, prompting the National League to suspend Ebbsfleet United after its first three league games were postponed. Dublin businessman John O'Leary took full control this week and settled the club’s hefty tax bill with HMRC. The financial rescue clears the immediate threat of liquidation and allows the side to focus on its on‑field objectives.
Collins appointed as consultant
Collins will act as an advisor and representative of the new ownership, tasked with cleaning up the club’s finances and guiding football operations. “My remit is to come in, get the feel for it, listen to the supporters, and try to figure out how a club this small got into such a financial mess,” he told the club’s YouTube channel. So, he added, “When all that settles down, I’m moving over with my wife and I will become an integral part of the club.”
Ebbsfleet United are set to begin their National League South campaign against FC Totton on Saturday. The fixture marks the first competitive test for Collins in his new role.
“I turned to my wife, Caroline, the boss, and said, what do you think? She said, ‘Rod, c’mon. You’ve got too much to offer,’” Collins recalled. He said the choice was between a beach walk in Spain and “standing here,” confirming his commitment to the English club.
The former double‑winning manager previously guided Bohemians to a league and cup double in 2000‑01, delivering the north Dublin side’s first league title in 23 years. He later enjoyed a high‑profile stint with Carlisle United and led Monaghan United and Athlone Town to First Division titles in the early 2010s. His résumé also includes spells at Shamrock Rovers, Derry City and a brief episode in Malta with FC Floriana, adding to his reputation for turning around struggling sides.
The contrast between a club rescued from a July winding‑up order and a veteran manager eager to rebuild highlights the fresh start Ebbsfleet United hope to achieve in English non‑league football. If Collins can translate his experience into stability, the side may finally move beyond the financial turmoil that threatened its existence.