Risky Rooney appointment a spectacular own goal

CHRIS ERRINGTON LOOKS BACK AT THE FORMER ENGLAND CAPTAIN'S PERIOD IN CHARGE AT PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

THE high-profile appointment of Wayne Rooney by Plymouth Argyle as their head coach last summer always had the feel of boom or bust about it.

Even so, the extent to which it has spectacularly backfired for all involved has been quite breathtaking, and it has led to Rooney's departure by mutual consent after only 25 matches - league and cup-in charge.

The disastrous results are one thing, with Argyle bottom of the Championship and on a run of one win from 14 games, but there are more factors at play than just that.

Argyle have over recent years established a deserved reputation as one of the best run clubs in the EFL, consistently making good decisions in all departments.

That led to their rise from League Two in 2019 to the Championship in 2023 after the excellent appointments of first Ryan Lowe and then Steven Schumacher as manager. However, since the departure of Schumacher to Stoke City in December 2023, the club's decisionmaking processes have failed them.

First they appointed Ian Foster as head coach and it soon became evident he was not a good fit at Argyle. He lasted only 15 games before he was relieved of his duties.

For a club who have always looked to the mid- to long-term rather than taking short-term almost knee-jerk decisions that was quite shocking, but given how badly it had gone under Foster they had no other choice.

Fortunately, Neil Dewsnip and Kevin Nancekivell were able to guide Argyle to 10 points from their final six fixtures of the season and they retained their Championship status - just.

Given that very close call with relegation, the decision to appoint Rooney as the new head coach in May was surprising, to say the least, especially given he had won just two out of 15 games during a short and unhappy stint at Birmingham City last season.