'The next step' - Micky Collins makes progress admission after earning Sheffield United promotion
Micky Collins has been promoted to assistant manager at Sheffield United following the exit of Alan Knill.
Micky Collins believes the opportunity to become Sheffield United assistant manager has arrived at the right stage of his career after stepping up to replace Alan Knill.
United announced on Wednesday that a restructure to Chris Wilder’s backroom team has been overseen, confirming that Knill and first-team coach Guilherme Ramos have left the club.
Knill, who was Wilder’s long-time assistant, is understood to have been shocked when the news was delivered to him earlier this month. He returned to Bramall Lane alongside Wilder last September.
As well as confirming the addition of former Manchester United and England defender Phil Jones to Wilder’s backroom team, the Blades also confirmed Collins has been promoted to assistant boss. He has worked his way through the Bramall Lane ranks since joining the club almost six years ago.
Working closely with Wilder in the last couple of years, Collins now has the opportunity to establish himself as the Blades chief’s right-hand man, and it is a chance he insists he is ready to take.
Collins told United’s in-house media: “It is a great opportunity for me at a massive club. I think, for my progression, it is the next step.
“I've worked at the club now for a good few years and understand the club inside and outside, and I'm really looking forward to it.
"It is kind of full circle for me having had an experience as a manager young out of playing. I wasn't ready for that looking back now and I can hold my hands up and accept that.
"Off the back of that, I made a conscious effort to make sure that I upskilled myself in as many different areas as I could. I have consciously gone and done different roles within football; I've done individual work, group work and teamwork, all the way back up to leading a team, into the first-team and obviously now towards assistant manager.
“I feel like it has come at the right time in my development, I feel ready for it. This isn't a free hit, you are here to do a job.
“We are a big club and there is a lot of expectation on us, and I'm well of that, so it is one thing getting the role, the next thing is making sure that you nail it.”