Birmingham fans are unconvinced by the looming appointment of Wayne Rooney as manager – as they lament sacking of John Eustace with club sixth in the Championship
- The former manager was appointed in summer 2022 and has overseen stability
- Despite a rip-roaring start to the season, Blues’ leaders are keen for new intent
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’
Birmingham City fans have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to share their unease at the sacking of manager John Eustace.
Speculation had been mounting over the weekend that the Blues boss was due to receive his marching orders, with the ownership group – which includes NFL legend Tom Brady – deciding to dismiss Eustace on Monday after just over a season at the club.
Mail Sport reported on Monday that Wayne Rooney had emerged has the clear frontrunner for the role after leaving his previous position at DC United.
Rooney mutually terminated his contract MLS side after their failure to make the league’s play-offs, and Birmingham are said to have made an initial approach to the former Derby County manager.
Under Eustace, Birmingham currently sit sixth in the Championship, and most recently recorded a 3-1 victory over local rivals West Bromwich Albion on Friday evening.
Many Birmingham City fans were disappointed to learn of the dismissal for John Eustace
The front runner to take over from the former head coach is thought to be Wayne Rooney, and the Blues are said to have approached for the ex-Derby County manager
Supporters seemed unconvinced by the change in direction taken by the club’s leadership
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The club’s fine start to the season has seen many fans take to social media to share their confusion over the manager’s sacking.
‘I’ll get behind (Rooney) and the team! But this feels like such a terrible decision!’ One user posted. ‘Eustace felt like a great fit, seemed to have the players on side, had us playing decent football! Was a steadying influence… let’s hope this isn’t (Gianfrano) Zola 2.0
‘Sorry to see JE go!!!’
Another added: ‘Another big difference is John really wanted to be at blues, Rooney Is only coming because no one else would be stupid enough to take him’.
One referenced Birmingham’s statement on Eustace’s dismissal, sharing: ‘The club deciding to change is one thing. But some of the lines in that statement put unnecessary black marks on John Eustace’s reign and simply aren’t true.
‘Puts even more pressure on the next guy (we know who that is) This has been handled so, so badly.’
In their communications around the former manager’s sacking, Birmingham claimed that their intention was to shift the football club’s ‘mentality’.
‘It is essential that the Board of Directors and the football management are fully aligned on the importance of implementing a winning mentality and a culture of ambition across the entire Football Club,’ the statement began. ‘With this in mind, Birmingham City has today parted company with Head Coach, John Eustace.’
After praising Eustace’s tenure, the club dialled in on the specifics required by their ideal candidate.
These include responsibility for ‘creating an identity and a clear “no fear” playing style that all Birmingham City teams will adopt and embrace’.
A few fans wondered why Rooney was being considered for the role based on the club’s decisive statement
Birmingham are enjoying a promising start to the season and currently sit sixth in the table
Some on social media wondered if Rooney was the right man in light of the magnitude of the task, with one user suggesting alternatives.
‘If “ambition” and “winning mentality” are the key attributes – I do not expect to Rooney in the dug out,’ the user posted. ‘I expect to see a (Ralph Hasenhuttl) or a (Graham) Potter in charge, as that would be a clear statement of intent.’
Aside from his foray into MLS, Rooney’s managerial career has been stymied by the checkered fortunes of former club Derby.
During his appointment, the club went into administration and were handed a 21-point deduction.
But Rooney’s grit and determined managerial style was lauded by supporters, but the crippling punishments levied at the club still saw Derby relegated from the Championship in April 2022.
The supporter’s reference to former Chelsea star Zola was likely shared in fear of recent history repeating itself.
In 2016, Birmingham were in spitting distance of a play-off place when then-boss Gary Rowett was sacked and replaced with the Italian, who most recently served alongside Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea.
During his 24 games in charge, Zola torpedoed the Blues’ Premier League prospects as they slid from seventh to 21st, with Harry Redknapp appointed before the season’s end to keep the club from hurtling down to League Two.
Another fan however threw his weight behind the reported first-choice new manager, stating: ‘It’s surely no coincidence this is all happening in the International break is it. Blues next play on the 21st. Gives Rooney and his team plenty of time with the squad.’
In 2016-17 Gianfranco Zola oversaw a disastrous tenure at St Andrews – sending the side from seventh to 21st
Some fans however through their backing behind the possible manager
Rooney’s family added fuel to the fire of speculation that he might be making the move to St Andrew’s when his son Kai began following a flurry of Birmingham players on Instagram on Sunday.
Eustace’s future remains equally in doubt, but at the start of September the manager was thought to be an early candidate should Michael Beale be replaced at Rangers.
Beale was sacked from the Ibrox after a dismal run of form that sees them sit four points behind loathed rivals Rangers.
Without their former manager, the side had a torrid time in Europe, losing their midweek Europa League tie to Cyprus’ Aris Limassol 2-1.
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