Plymouth sack Wayne Rooney after disastrous spell which set shocking Championship record
Wayne Rooney has been sacked by Plymouth Argyle just seven months into his reign as manager. The former Manchester United striker took over as the Pilgrims’ boss during the summer but a series of damaging defeats sees them rooted to the bottom of the Championship. Wayne Rooney has been sacked by Plymouth after just seven months at Home Park Plymouth are without a win since beating Portsmouth on November 5 – a run which stretches back nine matches. A 4-0 defeat at Coventry on Boxing Day was followed up with a 2-0 loss at Oxford on Sunday, leaving the club on 18 points from 23 games and four points from safety. No team in Championship history has shipped more goals after 23 games of a season than Plymouth’s 51 – which is also 10 more than any of their current rivals. The departing Rooney 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.” A club statement read: “Plymouth Argyle 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. GettyRooney and assistant Mike Phelan will both leave the club with immediate effect[/caption] “We would like to thank Wayne and his team for all their efforts and wish them well for the future.” The club confirmed that first team coach Kevin Nancekivell and Club Captain Joe Edwards will take charge of the team for the Championship clash with Bristol City on New Year’s Day. Rooney was dismissed just seven months into his three-year contract. Plymouth are without an away win this season having picked up just two points on the road. The 39-year-old oversaw a host of damaging defeats including 4-0 defeat at Bristol City, a 6-1 thrashing at Norwich and a 5-0 drubbing at Cardiff. In separate news, Rooney took to social media on Monday to dismiss speculation that he had invited a woman to his apartment. GettyRooney’s short-lived spell at Plymouth will be remembered for all the wrong reasons[/caption] Viral footage appeared to show Rooney with a woman at his property in Devon but the former England captain quickly poured cold water on the claims before adding context to the situation. He wrote: “I am aware of a video circulating online,” he said on his story on Monday evening. “The videos 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.”
Wayne Rooney has been sacked by Plymouth Argyle just seven months into his reign as manager.
The former Manchester United striker took over as the Pilgrims’ boss during the summer but a series of damaging defeats sees them rooted to the bottom of the Championship.
Plymouth are without a win since beating Portsmouth on November 5 – a run which stretches back nine matches.
A 4-0 defeat at Coventry on Boxing Day was followed up with a 2-0 loss at Oxford on Sunday, leaving the club on 18 points from 23 games and four points from safety.
No team in Championship history has shipped more goals after 23 games of a season than Plymouth’s 51 – which is also 10 more than any of their current rivals.
The departing Rooney 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.”
A club statement read: “Plymouth Argyle 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.
“We would like to thank Wayne and his team for all their efforts and wish them well for the future.”
The club confirmed that first team coach Kevin Nancekivell and Club Captain Joe Edwards will take charge of the team for the Championship clash with Bristol City on New Year’s Day.
Rooney was dismissed just seven months into his three-year contract.
Plymouth are without an away win this season having picked up just two points on the road.
The 39-year-old oversaw a host of damaging defeats including 4-0 defeat at Bristol City, a 6-1 thrashing at Norwich and a 5-0 drubbing at Cardiff.
In separate news, Rooney took to social media on Monday to dismiss speculation that he had invited a woman to his apartment.
Viral footage appeared to show Rooney with a woman at his property in Devon but the former England captain quickly poured cold water on the claims before adding context to the situation.
He wrote: “I am aware of a video circulating online,” he said on his story on Monday evening.
“The videos 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.”
