“A bit harsh” – Pundit reacts to big Birmingham City news involving Wayne Rooney
Rooney was sacked by the Blues after just two wins in 15 matches, but Carlton Palmer believes that the 38-year-old was hard done by..
After a torrid four month period as Birmingham City head coach, the curtain finally came down on Wayne Rooney’s time at the Midlands club.
Under pressure from the get-go at St. Andrew’s, Rooney failed to get the Blues fanbase onside after poor results to start off his time at the club from October 2023 onwards, and a 3-0 defeat at Leeds United on New Year’s Day proved to be the final straw for the new City hierarchy.
Rooney won just twice as manager of Birmingham from 15 matches, and having arrived when they were in sixth position thanks to the work of previous boss John Eustace, the ex-England international striker leaves them in 20th position and just six points above the relegation zone.
Palmer: Rooney sacking harsh by Birmingham City
Despite many not being surprised about Rooney finally being given the boot at St. Andrew’s, former England international midfielder Carlton Palmer believes that he has been pretty harshly treated by the Birmingham hierarchy by not letting him have the transfer window to bring in his own players.
“Wayne Rooney has been sacked by Birmingham City – it is a bit harsh in my opinion,” Palmer exclusively told Football League World.
“I know he wasn’t pulling up any trees at this particular moment in time, but he’d only been in charge for 15 games and a manager needs time to put his stamp on it.
“He’s come into the club not being able to bring in players, so he would have been able to bring in his own players in the January transfer window.
“But, they were in a play-off place when he came in, he’s lost nine out of 15 matches, he’s gone from a play-off place to 20th place in the Championship.
“It’s not good reading, but he was having to work with the players that were already in the club, and to play the style of football that he wanted to play, he would have needed a different set of players.
“So, it’s unfortunate for Wayne Rooney, I really do think that because whoever comes in now, the owners are very ambitious and they will allow them to spend money in the January transfer window, and that wasn’t afforded to Wayne Rooney.
“As I say, it was disappointing but it’s a results-based industry and results have been poor.”
Birmingham board made major mistake with Rooney appointment
Birmingham chairman Tom Wagner has already learnt a harsh lesson in the world of football club ownership with the events of Rooney being at the club.
The American hedge fund manager has Garry Cook managing the club on a day-to-day basis, and his close relationship with Rooney’s agent Paul Stretford will have played a major part in ditching Eustace for the 38-year-old, despite their sixth spot in the table back in October.
The gamble however well and truly failed, and there needs to be some accountability held by Cook and co for their decision to bring Rooney to the club in the first place.
Whilst they still need to be ambitious to replace Rooney and make funds available for his replacement to spend on improving the squad, the last four months have been a major blot on the copybook of the new hierarchy at boardroom level already.
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