Collins' performances earned him a move to Hull City in 2006, though knee injuries blighted his time at the club.

[6] He signed for Second Division club Port Vale on 26 June 2002, in a move that reunited him with Brian Horton, his manager at Huddersfield.

[8] After an initial shaky start,[8] Collins played 49 matches for Port Vale and was named their Player of the Year in the 2002–03 season,[9][10] later becoming captain.

[11] In September 2003, he was given the Second Division Player of the Month award,[12] as he settled into a highly successful centre-back partnership with new signing George Pilkington.

[18] He rejected the approach,[19] and instead joined another Championship club, Hull City, on 2 November on loan from Vale, prior to a permanent transfer for a £65,000 fee in January 2006.

[20] Michael Talbot later studied him heading the ball as a model for the sculpture of Roy Sproson that was installed at Vale Park.

[24] He joined Swindon Town on 28 September 2007 on a one-month loan,[25] after the club lost captain Hasney Aljofree to injury.

[42] Collins made 43 appearances during the 2013–14 season,[43] and was praised by manager Colin Cooper for the positive influence he had on the rest of the team.

[45] Collins played as a centre back and was described in March 2011 by his Hartlepool United manager Mick Wadsworth as a "warrior" who "leads by example" and as a "fearless header of the ball.

[46] Soon after signing for Hartlepool, manager Danny Wilson stated in February 2008 that: "He's a calming influence, he's a leader and that's what we needed in that backline.

[48] Collins took on the role of assistant first and reserve-team coach at Hartlepool United in May 2014 when signing a new contract with the club, while remaining part of the playing squad.

[57][58] Collins was dismissed by Hartlepool on 10 March, with Jones explaining the decision by saying: "We're changing the culture and the ethos here and when that happens sometimes there are casualties".

[61] Collins was appointed youth-team manager at National League North club York City on 3 July 2018.