Wayne Rooney failed to deliver on 'no fear' brief to make sacking inevitable
Wayne Rooney was axed as Birmingham City’s boss but claimed: ‘I wasn’t given enough time.’
The former Manchester United and England great insisted he deserved longer than two-and-a-half months after he was kicked out of St Andrew’s. A run of just two victories in 15 games saw Brum’s fans lose patience - and a lifeless show at Elland Road against Leeds United was the final straw as the visiting contingent turned on him following a limp 3-0 defeat.
Rooney’s statistics during his 83 days in charge saw the club pick up the fewest points and victories while conceding the most goals of any club in the division. They slipped from sixth in the table under predecessor John Eustace to 20th and currently lie just six points above the drop-zone.
In a statement following his exit, the 38-year-old said: “Football is a results business and I recognise they have not been at the level I wanted them to be. However, time is the most precious commodity a manager requires and I do not believe 13 weeks was sufficient to oversee the changes that were needed.”
Rooney was charged with the brief of bringing ‘No fear’ football to St Andrew’s when he was chosen by chief executive Garry Cook to be the man to spearhead a vision created by the club’s new owners, Knighthead Capital.
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The US investment firm officially took over the reins in July but left Eustace in place until the second international break when they decided to make a change. Rooney had just left DC United where the jury was out on his work in Major League Soccer - and it had been a similar verdict following his time at Derby County.
But the lure of landing a man who remains Manchester United’s greatest goalscorer was too much to resist and a switch was made - much to the puzzlement of Birmingham’s fans - the majority of whom didn’t believe one was necessary.
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Wayne Rooney was appointed to bring in a brand of 'No Fear' footballBut Knighthead co-owner Tom Wagner crunched the numbers - believing a ‘progressive’ brand of football would best serve his club and was advised to swoop. After wooing NFL star Tom Brady to join the cause at St Andrew’s there was a touch of Hollywood glamour about the place, particularly after vital infrastructure work was carried out to repair crumbling stands at the club’s stadium.
That feeling intensified after Rooney was appointed - although the timing of Eustace’s departure was bizarre. The justification was that the club’s ‘ambitions weren’t aligned’ with those of the new owners and he was sacked after back-to-back home victories over Huddersfield Town and West Bromwich Albion.
Seven goals were netted during those two outings - the same number as Rooney’s side managed in seven attempts. Indeed, Eustace registered more wins inside four days at St Andrew’s than Rooney managed in his entire reign.
Cook had swallowed the corporate north American dictionary as he talked about ‘rearview mirrors,’ ‘alignment of ambition,’ and ‘limiting your capacity to succeed.’ He was singing from a very different hymn sheet on Tuesday as he confirmed the news that Rooney had been axed.
“We’re committed to doing what is necessary to bring success to St Andrew’s. Unfortunately, Wayne’s time with us did not go as planned and we have decided to move in a different direction. The search for a successor begins with immediate effect.”
Steve Spooner will step up from his role as a professional development coach to take control of the first team as assistant first-team coach Carl Robinson has also been sacked. Ashley Cole and John O’Shea will remain in their positions.
As for Rooney, he awaits his next adventure in football management. Whether it will come with the unique set of standards being demanded by Birmingham City’s owners is, as yet, unclear.
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He said: “It will take me some time to get over this setback. I’ve been involved in professional football, as either a player or manager, since I was 16. Now I plan to take some time with my family as I prepare for the next opportunity in my managerial journey.”
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