Birmingham City has parted ways with manager Wayne Rooney after a brief tenure of just 83 days. Rooney, appointed on October 11, took charge of the Championship club amid controversy, replacing John Eustace with Blues initially in the sixth position but now dropped to 20th after nine defeats in his 15-game term.
The 38-year-old acknowledged the results weren’t at the desired level, and in the aftermath of Monday’s 3-0 loss to Leeds, Rooney expressed his understanding of football being a results-oriented business. Professional development coach Steve Spooner will step in as interim manager, and Carl Robinson, part of Rooney’s backroom staff, also departs.
Rooney expressed gratitude to the club’s leadership for the opportunity but stated that the 13 weeks were insufficient to implement the necessary changes. Planning to take a break, he reflected on the setback, emphasizing the precious commodity of time that a manager needs.
The decision to appoint Rooney had drawn comparisons to previous managerial changes at Birmingham City, hoping for a positive impact. However, the anticipated success and exciting style of football did not materialize. The club is now looking for a new direction, and former manager Gary Rowett is among the names considered for the interim role.
Birmingham City, currently six points clear of relegation places, faces an FA Cup third-round match against Hull City before crucial league games against Swansea, Middlesbrough, and Stoke.
The early decision to part ways with Rooney aims to provide a new manager with an opportunity to assess and potentially make signings during the January transfer window.
Source: BBC Sports
