Former Sunderland defender Neill Collins has been appointed as League One Barnsley's new boss. The 39-year-old Scot succeedes Michael Duff at Oakwell, with Duff having taken over at Swansea City over the summer in the wake of Russell Martin's departure from South Wales to become Southampton manager.
Collins arrives in South Yorkshire after spending five years in Florida as manager of Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL Championship, and having been named Championship Coach of the Year as his side narrowly missed out on the title. He takes over a Tykes side that reached the League One play-off final last season, where they lost 1-0 to Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley.
During his playing days, Collins played in Scotland for Queen's Park and then Dumbarton, before joining Sunderland for a bargain £25,000 in the summer of 2004 under the management of Mick McCarthy. Collins made just 24 appearances for the Black Cats, scoring two goals, before being sent on loan to Hartlepool United and Sheffield United.
