Wayne Rooney is stepping down as manager of Derby County after talks with the club’s administrators today, the club have confirmed.
The Rams have experienced a crisis-filled 18 months and in a statement, Rooney said his reason for leaving the role is because “the club now needs to be led by someone with fresh energy.”
Wayne Rooney has today informed Derby County Football Club that he wishes to be relieved of his duties as first team manager with immediate effect.#DCFC
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) June 24, 2022
Derby County Manager Wayne Rooney Leaves the Club
Uncertainty Continues at Derby
Derby are still in administration following their relegation to League One this season. The club were deducted 12 points for entering administration at the start of the 2021/22 season, and a further nine points were deducted because they breached English Football League (EFL) accounting rules.
Rooney took interim charge of Derby in 2020 along with a coaching staff of three others. Initially a player-manager, he became permanent manager at the start of 2021 and took the club from the bottom of the table to avoid the relegation zone in his first season.
Derby went into administration in September 2021 and were handed a 12-point deduction by the EFL. Middlesborough and Wycombe Wanderers took legal action against Derby, there were a number of failed takeovers, and then they were handed a further nine-point deduction for breaching EFL accounting rules.
The 2021/22 season saw Rooney tangle with on-field issues of a depleted and vastly inexperienced squad, coupled with the off-field issues going on at the club with their administration and more failed ownership attempts, and ultimately couldn’t survive the 21-point deduction they were given.
Rooney and his team’s noble efforts would have seen them survive the drop, placing 18th if they were not handed points deductions.
The former England captain leaves his role as manager while the club’s administrators continue the complicated process of finding a buyer.
Read more: Mike Ashley’s Bid for Derby County Withdrawn
Wayne Rooney has stepped down as Derby manager after 17 turbulent months, on the day hopes grew for a takeover of the club by a local property group https://t.co/4h5491KdtQ pic.twitter.com/sjUAbTqm5d
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) June 24, 2022
What’s Next?
Derby County continue to look for a buyer to repay their debts and take them out of administration. The most recent bid was from US businessman Chris Kirchner fell through on 13 June 2022, and negotiations continue with a number of potential buyers.
Only five first-team players remain under contract with Derby after 30 June 2022 and they’re under a transfer embargo until their ownership situation is resolved. The club face a 15-point deduction next season if they don’t manage to find a new owner to take them out of administration soon.
There isn’t any news on Wayne Rooney’s next project at the moment.
Read more: Manchester United and Crystal Palace Monitoring Derby County Youngster
