The autobiography of former Carlisle United manager Roddy Collins has been nominated for a major award.

Collins' memoir, titled 'The Rodfather', is in the running to be named Irish Sports Book of the year.

The colourful ex-manager, who was in charge at Brunton Park from 2001-3, collaborated with Paul Howard on his life story.

It is shortlisted alongside five other titles for the Eason Sports Book of the Year at the AN Post Irish Book Awards, with the winner announced at a ceremony in Dublin on November 23.

Collins' book includes details on his eventful, controversial and at times chaotic Brunton Park reign.

READ MORE: Roddy Collins: 'I was called an idiot after Carlisle. I didn't deserve that'

The awards citation for his book says: "Roddy Collins is a football man – now in the sixth decade of a career as a player (at sixteen clubs), manager (twelve clubs) and commentator.

"And he is a funny man: an unequalled raconteur with a sharp eye for the absurdities of the professional game and spectacular recall.

"He has made friends wherever he has gone, along with some high-quality enemies. When [former executive vice-president of the Football Association of Ireland] John Delaney said he could get Roddy a job if he’d just stop criticising him, Roddy replied that he’d ‘rather dig holes in the road’.

"Now, with the brilliant Paul Howard, Roddy puts it all down on paper for the first time – the adventures, the rows and the craic – in what is not only one of the funniest but also one of the most eye-opening books ever written about professional football."

The other books in the running for the award are The Game by Tadhg Coakley (Merrion Press), A History of the GAA in 100 Objects by Siobhán Doyle (Merrion Press), Point to Point – The Heart of Irish Horse Racing – by Healy Racing, with words by Richard Pugh and photographs by Pat ‘Cash’ Healy (The O’Brien Press), Life Begins in Leitrim by Zak Moradi, with Niall Kelly (Gill Books) and Kellie by Kellie Harrington, with Roddy Doyle (Sandycove).

Collins last week spoke to the News & Star for an in-depth interview about his turbulent time with the Blues - click HERE

'The Rodfather' by Roddy Collins with Paul Howard is published by Sandycove and is available in shops and online.