Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan told Talksport how Derby County took on a huge risk with Wayne Rooney and feels they need a more experienced manager in the role.
Rooney joined Derby in January 2020 on an initial player-coach role.
But following the dismissal of Phillip Cocu earlier this season, the former Manchester United man was handed the manager’s job permanently after an initial caretaker role.
Rooney guided Derby off the bottom of the Championship table.
But a run of just one win from their last 12 games leaves the Rams just four points above Rotherham United and safety while the Millers still have two games in hand.
Speaking on Talksport, Jordan initially felt appointing the inexperienced Rooney was a big risk and feels Derby should change their manager this summer amid a new takeover.
“They will not get relegated. Derby will skate by the finest margins. This was a very risky decision to put Wayne Rooney and that coaching staff in place. Whilst they made be decent coaches, it was the blind leading the blind. They are holding on by the fact Rotherham United cant win games. If he [Erik Alonso] wants to build Derby into the club he says then with the greatest respect to Wayne, this is a job that needs to go to somebody who knows how to do it,” Jordan told Talksport.
Derby are in the midst of a new takeover by Erik Alonso. The Spaniard has agreed to buy the Rams off Mel Morris, with the deal now pending EFL approval.
Alonso has spoken of his desire to take Derby back to the Premier League, with the ultimate ambition to follow the likes of Leicester City and take the club into the Champions League.
But in the short-term, Alonso may be keen to review Derby’s coaching staff.
Rooney’s win percentage record as Derby boss stands at 30.3%. Of all the managers under Mel Morris’s reign, only Nigel Pearson holds a worse record at 21.43%.
Some may point to the lack of quality at Rooney’s disposal or the list of injuries, but regardless Derby should be faring better and a clear rebuild must take place this summer.
Also see: Three former Derby targets who could play key role in relegating the Rams to League One
Also see: Three former Derby targets who could play key role in relegating the Rams to League One