A number of rival Championship clubs are watching Wayne Rooney’s situation at Derby County after the Rams entered administration this week, according to TEAMtalk.
The former Manchester United captain never hid his desire to move into management, admitting as long ago as 2010 he saw a future for himself dictating things from the sidelines (The Guardian).
But after less than a year in permanent charge of Derby County, Rooney could be forgiven for packing up his clipboard and binning his whistle after deciding a career in coaching wasn’t for him.
In eight months the 35-year-old has found himself in the middle of a relegation battle, a series of off-pitch controversies, the departures of countless key players, a transfer embargo and now a 12-point deduction that has undermined Derby’s impressive start to the season.
It has been a roller-coaster journey that would make anyone feel nauseous.
Will Wayne Rooney stay at Derby County?
According to TEAMtalk a handful of Championship clubs are weighing up an attempt to lure Rooney from Pride Park, offering him a quieter, simpler life elsewhere in the second tier.
It’s no surprise to see a Salford City side co-owned by several former Old Trafford contemporaries showing an interest too.
Fortunately for Rams supporters desperate to avoid yet more upheaval, Rooney doesn’t sound like a man ready to leap into the lifeboat as the Derby ship sails full speed into an iceberg of epic proportions.
“I am here to fight for this club, I am not prepared to walk away. We will get through this, there is no worry the club will go into liquidation,” said a bullish Rooney at his post-administration press conference today, as reported by the Derby Telegraph.
“With 12 points (deducted), it is going to be a challenge and I have challenged the players to make history. No-one has done that (avoided relegation) previously.”
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