Wayne Rooney sacked by Plymouth as Man Utd icon makes assertion on woeful season
Wayne Rooney has left Plymouth Argyle after a woeful run of form.
The Manchester United and England legend only took over at the Championship side at the beginning of the season. But the Pilgrims are slumped at the bottom of the table in 24th position after just four wins in 23 games this term.
They are currently on an abysmal run of nine games without victory, including 4-0 drubbings by Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City. And with relegation staring Plymouth in the face, Rooney’s departure was confirmed in an announcement today.
In a statement, Plymouth Argyle said: “We can confirm that the club and head coach Wayne Rooney have mutually agreed to part ways with immediate effect. Departing the club with Rooney will be assistant head coach Mike Phelan and first team coach Simon Ireland. First team coach Kevin Nancekivell and club captain Joe Edwards will lead the team for our Sky Bet Championship match against Bristol City on New Year’s Day. Daryl Flahavan will continue as goalkeeping coach.
“We would like to thank Wayne and his team for all their efforts and wish them well for the future. The club will be making no further comment at this stage with updates on our new first team management staff in due course.”
Don’t miss a thing with football updates!
Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news? Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star Football email newsletter!
From the latest transfer news to breaking stories, get it all in your email inbox.
How do you sign up?
It only takes a matter of seconds.
Simply click on this link, then provide your email address and that’s it, job done. You’ll receive an email with all of the top football stories.
You can also sign up for our sport email, Off the Ball, for all the latest darts, boxing, snooker, F1 stories and more, right here
Rooney also released a statement, in which he said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the board of Plymouth Argyle Football Club, in particular Simon Hallett and Neil Dewsnip who I shared great relationships with. Thanks also to all the staff who made me feel welcome and who make the club such a special place, the players and fans for their efforts and support during my time as head coach and I wish them all the best for the future.
“To the Green Army thanks for making the games at Home Park so special, they are memories that we will share forever. I would also like to give a special mention to my coaching staff Kevin Nancekivell, Simon Ireland, Darryl Flahavan and Mike Phelan for their knowledge, dedication, help and support. Plymouth Argyle will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will continue to look out for and take interest in their results.”
The 39-year-old former striker’s exit comes just two days after his side’s 2-0 loss to relegation rivals Oxford United on Sunday. Yesterday he took to Instagram to hit out at claims around a viral video showing him with a man and a woman.
Rooney, who has been living down in Devon, away from his wife Coleen and children, explained how he invited a couple in after they gave him and his son a lift home. He wrote on Instagram: “I am aware of a video circulating online.
“The video shows a man and woman looking around my apartment. The couple kindly gave me a lift home and were in there at the same time as my son who was visiting. Footage is from last summer. It is annoying that at least one online newspaper has chosen to edit the footage to make it appear as though a woman entered the apartment on her own. That is simply not true.”
Speaking on Sunday, about Plymouth’s predicament, the football legend said: “I think you have to look at every possible outcome. I think that’s normal with the results we are going through,” when quizzed about potentially stepping down.
“You have to feel you can turn it around, have you got the players to turn it around. Can I turn it around? Can the coaches turn it around? That’s all stuff we really have to look at.”
