Derby County manager Wayne Rooney has vowed to stand by his ailing club as they were officially hit with a 12-point deduction following administration on Wednesday. The England and Manchester United legend has pledged to become a leader for the club during these tough and trying times, as owner Mel Morris seeks to find a new buyer who can take the club off his hands and sort out their financial issues.
Rooney had discovered about the decision to enter Derby into administration from television reports, which left the first-time manager feeling “disrespected.”
“I’ve not spoken to Mel since 9 August,” said Rooney, as quoted from BBC Sport, “I actually phoned him off one of the club doctors’ phone. Obviously he answered calls from the club doctor but not the manager for whatever reason. It is unfortunate that is the way it was but that is how it got handled. Thankfully now, I won’t have the worry of having to get in touch with him.”
When asked by BBC Sport on would he be willing to take the Derby job should he had known about the club’s financial issues, Rooney gave a definite, “I doubt it.”
However, the all-time top scorer for Manchester United affirmed his loyalty for Derby immediately afterwards, stating that, “I will fight for the club. I wouldn’t leave the club’s staff members in the lurch. They need someone to lead them through all of this.”
Having taken over the Derby job from PSV Eindhoven legend Phillip Cocu on November 2020, Rooney likened the Rams’ situation to something that a family of his had gone through recently.
“My mother is still working as a dinner lady at the school I went to. There are discussions about whether that school gets closed down, so my mother is in the same position as some of the staff are here,” said Rooney as quoted from BBC Sport, “I know how life works. I know the struggles people have with their bills and their mortgages and to put food on the table. I have gone through that at first hand as a child.”
“The best way to handle that is to be open and honest with people because if you are not, people see right through it,” Rooney continued, “That transparency of communication and honesty, it does mean a lot.”
With the 12-point deduction now in effect, Derby are now languishing at the bottom of the Championship table with -2 points to their name. They face a further deduction of nine points should the English Football League (EFL) found them guilty of conducting improper accounting practices.
However, administrators Quantuma are optimistic that Derby’s future can be secured, with the club’s survival rate being listed in a healthy 95%. Up to six potential buyers have declared their interest in taking the Rams away from Morris, with two of them having prior contact with the Derby owner.
Among the interested parties were former Derby higher-ups Andy Appleby and Sam Rush, both of whom are part of the 366 Group. Former Derby owner Andy sold his share to Morris in 2015, while former Derby chief executive Sam was sacked for gross misconduct in 2017, something he vehemently denied and was awarded compensation for in 2018.