Ex-Sheffield United & Leeds man is new Barnsley boss after Sheffield Wednesday play-off defeat

Former Sheffield United and Leeds defender has returned to Yorkshire after being appointed as Barnsley’s new manager, on a two-year deal. The Scot played 216 times for the Blades across a five-year spell at Bramall Lane and he also played for Wolves and Sunderland during his playing career, before moving into coaching.

Collins finished his playing career at Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL Championship and was named as their new coach in 2018 after hanging up his boots. Collins was named USL Championship coach of the year at the end of the 2021 season after leading the Rowdies to the final and will look to help the Reds go one better than last term, when they lost in the play-off final at Wembley.

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“First of all, I’d like to say a huge thanks to the Tampa Bay Rowdies for supporting me in exploring this opportunity,” Collins said. “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.

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“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. I can’t wait to get started and work on getting this club back to where it belongs.”

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