The man the South Portland City Council hoped to hire as the new city manager has withdrawn his tentative acceptance of the offer.

Now, the council will have to ponder its next steps in finding a replacement for Jim Gailey, who resigned this past summer to take the job of assistant manager for Cumberland County.

On Monday, Mayor Tom Blake announced the selection of Edward Collins for the open post of South Portland’s head administrator. Collins was chosen after a months-long process that included an initial group of 23 candidates for the job.

He and another finalist, James “Ty” Ross, were both invited to South Portland last week for a second round of interviews and a chance to meet with community members and department heads. It was after that visit that Collins was offered the job.

In a statement sent to the city today, Nov. 9, Collins said, “After careful consideration . . . I am compelled to inform you . . . that I will not be executing the contract put forward by the city of South Portland.”

“I appreciate the confidence of the City Council . . . However, it is clear to me that I am not the right person for the job at this time. I recognize that my decision creates some difficulty for the City Council. I apologize for that but I feel strongly that getting the right person on the job is more important than sticking to a strict schedule or process.”

In announcing that Collins had withdrawn his candidacy, Don Gerrish, the interim city manager, said the council would discuss the next steps at a workshop scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14.

Edward Collins will not be taking the city manager job in South Portland after all.

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