Rooney sacked by Birmingham after disastrous 15-game spell،
Wayne Rooney has been fired as manager of Birmingham City after a run of nine defeats in 15 games left the team on the brink of the EFL Championship relegation zone.
Birmingham's American owners Knighthead Capital Management, led by company co-founder Tom Wagner, dismissed Rooney from his post on Tuesday following a 3-0 defeat at Leeds United on New Year's Day.
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In a statement released on Tuesday, Birmingham said: “Birmingham City have today parted ways with their manager, Wayne Rooney, and first team coach, Carl Robinson.
“Despite their best efforts, results have not met the expectations initially expressed. Therefore, the board believes that a change in management is in the best interests of the football club.”
The club thanked Rooney and Robinson for their time and said professional development coach Steve Spooner would take on responsibility for coaching the club on an interim basis.
Sources have told ESPN that the position of Garry Cook, the Birmingham chief executive who hired Rooney, is also under scrutiny, but the former Manchester City and Saudi Pro League CEO remains in the job at this stage.
“Unfortunately, Wayne's time with us did not go as planned and we have decided to move in a different direction,” Cook said in a statement from Birmingham.
“The search for a successor begins with immediate effect and we will update our supporters when we have further news.”
Former Manchester United and England striker Rooney, who quit as coach of MLS side DC United to take charge of Birmingham in October, was subjected to chants of 'You're sacked in the morning' by supporters of his own team at Leeds.
Having inherited a team that was in the Championship playoff zone from his predecessor John Eustace, who was surprisingly fired in October, Rooney signed a three-and-a-half year contract at St Andrew's, promising to bring a football “fearless” at the club.
But Rooney, 38, suffered four defeats in his first five games and was unable to stop a slump which saw Birmingham slip down the table.
Rooney criticized some of his players during his brief tenure, saying their fitness levels were not good enough and some could not play the way he asked them to play.
But after leading the team to just two wins during his three months in charge, Rooney has now been sacked ahead of Saturday's FA Cup third round clash against Hull City.
In his own statement, Rooney said: “I would like to thank Tom Wagner, Tom Brady and Garry Cook for the opportunity to manage Birmingham City FC and the support they have all given me during my short time with the club.
“Football is about results – and I recognize they haven't been at the level I wanted them to be. However, time is the most precious commodity a manager needs and I don't think that 13 weeks was sufficient to oversee the changes that took place.
“Personally, it will take me time to overcome this failure. I have been involved in professional football, as a player or coach, since the age of 16. Now, I intend to take some time with my family to prepare me for the next opportunity in my journey as a manager.
“Finally, I wish Birmingham City FC and their owners my best wishes as they pursue their ambitions.”
