Former Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney has been dismissed as manager of Championship club Plymouth Argyle.
Rooney began his fourth job in management back in May, taking over the reins from Ian Foster at Plymouth following previous spells with Derby County, DC United and Birmingham City.
But after just seven months at the helm, the 39-year-old departs Home Park by ‘mutual’ consent and with ‘immediate effect’, with Plymouth sitting rock-bottom of the division.
It follows a wretched run of results for Plymouth under Rooney’s rule. The Pilgrims have won just one of their last 14 matches in the English second tier and sit four points adrift of safety.
Rooney’s players were roundly booed by their own support after they fell to to a dismal 2-0 loss away to fellow strugglers Oxford United at the weekend.
‘Plymouth Argyle can confirm that the club and head coach Wayne Rooney have mutually agreed to part ways with immediate effect,’ a statement on the club’s official website read this morning.
‘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.’
Plymouth thanked Rooney and his staff for their service while reassuring supporters that further updates over a potential replacement would be revealed in ‘due course’.
‘We would like to thank Wayne and his team for all their efforts and wish them well for the future,’ the statement continued.
‘The club will be making no further comment at this stage with updates on our new first-team management staff in due course.’
Rooney, meanwhile, passed on his gratitude to those who made him ‘feel welcome’ across his brief tenure at Plymouth, giving ‘special mention’ to his coaching staff.
‘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,’ Rooney said.
‘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.’
Rooney added: ‘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.’
This season, Rooney have conceded more goals than any team in England’s top four divisions, while managing the joint-fewest at the other end of the pitch.
Interim boss Nancekivell will hope to stop the rot on Wednesday night when Plymouth play host to Liam Manning’s resurgent Bristol City, who sit tenth in the Championship.
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