Former Derby County manager Wayne Rooney has explained what he found ‘very difficult’ during his time at Pride Park.
Derby County shocked the footballing world when they signed Wayne Rooney from MLS side DC United in January 2020.
The ex-Manchester United goal machine scored just seven times in 35 appearances before being named interim manager of the Rams in November 2020 and then given the permanent role in January 2021.
Rooney was forced to work under the backdrop of financial mismanagement and uncertainty surrounding the club’s future.
As a result, Derby battled relegation in the 2020/21 campaign and came close to dropping into League One but a 3-3 draw against Birmingham City kept them up on the final day at the expense of Wycombe Wanderers.
In the following campaign, Rooney was given next to no chance of keeping his side in the second tier as they were deducted 21 points after entering administration and the Rams were subsequently relegated to the third tier.
Wayne Rooney explains what he found ‘very difficult’ at Derby County
If Derby weren’t deducted 21 points in that campaign, they would have finished 17th in the table and everyone would have applauded the job Rooney did.
Nearly two years after leaving Pride Park, the former England striker has opened up on his ‘very difficult’ time at the club and compared their situation to what Everton have faced this season.
The Toffees have been deducted points on two occasions due to breaching PSR but did beat Liverpool 2-0 in the Merseyside Derby last night to edge closer to Premier League survival.
Speaking before the match live on Sky Sports, Rooney said: “Similar to Everton, we had it in two different spells; we got 12 points and then we got nine points a few months later.
“It’s very difficult for the staff, it’s extremely hard; staff members were losing their jobs and being made redundant. So all you can try to do is keep everyone calm and I think just be honest with players and staff what the situation is and try give them as much information as you can.”
David Clowes is Derby County’s hero
Derby were sleepwalking towards the same fate Bury and Macclesfield faced, slipping to extinction until David Clowes saved the day in July 2022.
The local businessman has etched his name into Pride Park folklore for saving one of English football’s biggest institutions, as their future was in real danger during Rooney’s tenure.
Now, the Rams are on the verge of a return to the Championship, requiring just a point at home to Carlisle this weekend.
If they do get over the line, which they should, this promotion will – of course – belong to the players and staff but without the intervention of Clowes, Derby wouldn’t have had the opportunity to celebrate the good times.
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