DANNY Collins last night said a big thank-you to Mick McCarthy as he hailed his sacked former boss as the 'best manager he has played under'.

Although two Premiership wins from 28 games under McCarthy's charge seems to determine otherwise, Collins believes he is a better player for having played under the former Republic of Ireland chief.

McCarthy plucked the virtually unknown Collins from Chester City in League Two for a bargain £140,000 in October 2004. He then turned him into a Wales international in less than four months and a Premier League player within a year.

The 25-year-old defender acknowledged the debt he owes to his former boss for moulding him into a top-flight player and revealed he is still saddened by his recent dismissal.

"He's probably the best manager I have played under so far," admitted Collins, whose gaff against Manchester City was arguably the straw that broke chairman Bob Murray's back and got McCarthy the boot. "His man-management skills were quality.''

Following the same path as team-mates Kevin Kyle and Liam Lawrence, Collins admitted: "The timing (of his sacking) surprised me. I can't really see the benefit between now and the end of the season. But it was the board's decision and now he's gone. A lot of the lads were sad to see him leave because we all thought he was a good manager. But results haven't gone for us this season so that's what happens.

"He brought me here, gave me the chance to play and made me a better player. I don't think he would have signed me if he didn't think I could play in the Championship.

"I got my chance early in this season and I've pretty much stayed in the team. I hope I've paid a bit of that back. I've played OK in a lot of the games this season apart from my mistake at Man City. But top players make mistakes, as Steven Gerrard and Peter Ramage at Newcastle showed. These things happen from time to time and you just have to bounce back from that.

"But I want to wish him all the best for the future. I'm sure he'll walk into another job at the start of next season. I'm sure he'll have a break between now and the end of the season but I'm sure clubs will be queuing up to take him next season."

With Kevin Ball holding the reins as caretaker boss at the Stadium of Light until the end of the season, Collins has now played under three successive managers who have been centre-halves during their playing careers.

The Wales international believes he has been the lucky recipient of receiving first-class advice as a consequence and reckons his career can only flourish further under Ball's tutelage.

"It has been helpful for me playing as a centre-half," said Collins who played under former England star Mark Wright at Chester.

"I can't remember too much about Bally playing there. I can only remember his later days at Sunderland playing centre midfield. But he played with his heart on his sleeve.

"He's pretty similar to the gaffer (McCarthy). They're both loud in the changing room and they let you know how they feel, whereas other managers don't say too much. It's early doors for me playing under Kevin but he seems to know his stuff.

"We hope he can resurrect our fortunes in the long term but we need something pretty sharp. He's only got nine games and you can't really judge him over that period of time. We hope we can get a few results for him though."

Whether Ball gets the manager's job at the end of the season remains uncertain as the Sunderland chairman is keeping his cards close to his chest.

The former Black Cats hardman would be a popular choice with supporters. But then so would a big name such as Martin O'Neill, who is currently being courted by the FA for the England job and by rivals Newcastle United.

Collins revealed the Sunderland squad are all working hard to impress their new boss but he also confessed that if a new man was brought in a mass exodus could be on the cards.

"Usually if a new manager comes in he'll bring some players with him," said Collins, who is contracted at the Stadium of Light until 2008. "I'm sure some players will be moving on and some players will be coming in."

Meanwhile, Julio Arca looks as if he could miss out on Sunderland's trip to Bolton on Saturday.

He limped out of last weekend's defeat at home to Wigan just before half-time with a hamstring complaint. Ball has recalled left-back Dan Smith from his loan spell at Huddersfield Town.

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