Following his abrupt departure as the manager of Birmingham City, former football icon Wayne Rooney has voiced his discontent, underscoring the brevity of his tenure and the need for more time to effect changes at the club.
The decision to part ways with Rooney was conveyed by Birmingham City through their official website, attributing the dismissal to his inability to meet the club’s performance benchmarks.
Reacting to the sudden turn of events, Rooney expressed his belief that the allocated 13 weeks were insufficient to enact the necessary transformations as the club’s manager.
He acknowledged the demanding nature of football, emphasizing the cruciality of time in fostering change within the team.
In a statement shared on his X account after his exit confirmation, Rooney conveyed gratitude to Tom Wagner, Tom Brady, and Garry Cook for the managerial opportunity and their support during his brief stint with Birmingham City.
Acknowledging the essence of results in football, Rooney recognized the team’s performance fell short of his expectations.
However, he underscored the significance of time, expressing doubts about the adequacy of the 13-week duration to implement the desired alterations.
“I would like to thank Tom Wagner, Tom Brady, and Garry Cook for the opportunity to manage Birmingham City FC and the support they all gave me during my short period with the club.
“Football is a results business and I recognise they have not been at the level I wanted them to be. However, time is the most precious commodity a manager requires and I do not believe 13 weeks was sufficient to oversee the changes that were needed,” he said.
The football stalwart revealed his intention to take a pause with his family before pursuing the next managerial endeavor, emphasizing the setback this turn of events has caused after being immersed in professional football since the age of 16.
In his final well-wishes, Rooney extended his best regards to Birmingham City FC and its ownership, conveying hopes for their continued pursuit of success in their endeavors.
Rooney’s appointment on October 11 was a pivotal moment as the first managerial choice under the new ownership of Tom Wagner and Knighthead Capital Management Group.
Despite his initial promise, the team’s performance saw a string of nine losses in 15 matches, landing Birmingham City in the 20th position on the Championship table.
