Birmingham City sack manager Wayne Rooney after disappointing results
Birmingham City have made the decision to sack manager Wayne Rooney after a disappointing run of results. Rooney, who won just two of his 15 Championship matches at the helm, saw the club slip from sixth to 20th in the table. The first team coach, Carl Robinson, has also been dismissed.
In a club statement, it was announced, “Despite their best efforts, results have not met the expectations that were made clear at the outset. Therefore, the board feels that a change in management is in the best interests of the football club.”
Rooney expressed gratitude for the opportunity to manage Birmingham City, but also acknowledged that “Football is a results business – and I recognize they have not been at the level I wanted them to be.”
The search for a successor has already begun, and professional development coach Steve Spooner will take charge on an interim basis until a permanent successor is found.
This decision comes after Birmingham’s new owners dismissed Rooney’s predecessor, John Eustace, in October. The club cited the need for “a winning mentality” and “a culture of ambition.”
Rooney, who was appointed when Birmingham were in a promotion play-off spot, has had previous coaching stints at Derby County and MLS side D.C. United, with varying degrees of success.
Birmingham City’s CEO, Garry Cook, stated, “We are 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 club’s new owners will be looking to find a permanent successor for Rooney in the near future as they seek to improve their position in the Championship.