A WAR of words has erupted between relegation candidates Shamrock Rovers and Dublin City after manager Roddy Collins quit the Vikings to take charge of the Hoops last Thursday.

Temporary City boss Dermot Keely lashed Collins after his walkout. Keely said, “I have inherited a real mess at the club. Roddy brought in seven English players, and five are still there. Two of them – Keith Rowland and Grant Cooper – fly in and out which is not ideal. The other three, Adam Rundle, Scott Friel and Ronnie Henry, are based in Dublin but were given permission to return to England last weekend. 

“Yes, that is right. Roddy told them they were free to return home when we have a must-win game against Longford Town. Had I known I would have stopped them. 

“It is also the case the loyalty of those five players lies with Roddy ... Who knows, they may have expectations – or maybe they have even heard – that Roddy would take them to Rovers? So is it really in their interest to fight to the death for Dublin City? 

“And it is not as though I can drop them because Roddy got rid of so many players when he took over that the squad is positively threadbare. When I looked at my bench last Thursday, I thought I was in charge of Home Farm’s under-17 side.” 

Collins insists he has done no wrong. “I know what was happening at Dublin City and I can look at myself in the mirror with a clear conscience,” he claimed.