YORK City’s new number two Micky Cummins is backing former manager and one-time house-mate Sam Collins to get back into the game.

Cummins and Collins both played for Port Vale during a four-season stint between 2002 and 2006, sharing car journeys to Burslem and even living under the same roof for a period of time.

In a twist of fate, Cummins is now a part of the management team that has succeeded Collins and his assistant Stuart Parnaby, having followed new boss Steve Watson from Gateshead.

But he still wants his old friend to prosper, revealing: “I had a close relationship with Sam. He lived with me for a spell and we used to travel to Port Vale together.

“He’s a good, footballing guy, who I’m sure will be back in the game. It’s just the harsh reality of football that people lose jobs.”

Along with a spell playing under City sporting director Dave Penney at Darlington, Cummins also plied his trade under two ex-Bootham Crescent bosses in Martin Foyle and Gary Mills at Vale and Gateshead respectively, with the Dublin-born 40-year-old adding: “I picked up little bits from both, as well as the other managers I’ve worked for and I’m still doing that with Steve, because it all helps you become a better coach and man-manager.”

On what has impressed Cummins about Watson’s work during their 15 months together at Gateshead, meanwhile, the former said: “He’s an approachable manager, rather than somebody who shouts and bawls.

“He’s tactical and tactile and creates relationships with players to get the best out of his squad. He’s been there and done it in the game and taken on board lots of the qualities from the managers he’s worked with previously.

“He also always approaches games looking to win and is quite astute when looking at opposition’s weaknesses.”

Describing the dynamics of their professional relationship, the former Republic of Ireland under-21 international went on to insist that he is not shy of challenging Watson’s opinions, pointing out: “The gaffer decides what to work on and how to get the best out of players based on who the opposition are, but I’m not a yes man.

“If I don’t agree with something, then we’ll have that discussion.”