‘My future is in doubt’; Rooney gives Burnley hope but one factor may keep him at Derby
Burnley managerial target Wayne Rooney has hinted he wants to remain at relegated Derby County but knows that the decision may be taken out of his hands.
The 36-year-old has been in charge of the Rams since November 2020 when Phillip Cocu was sacked. The former Manchester United and England ace kept his side in the Championship by the skin of their teeth in 2020-2021. They finished one point and one place above the second-tier bottom three.
But Monday’s 1-0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers means the East Midlanders will ply their trade in League One next term. It has been a calamitous season at Pride Park due to off-field matters.
Derby were given a 12-point deduction back in September after entering administration. And they were then deducted a further nine points in November after admitting to breaching EFL accounting rules.
It meant that Rooney’s task of keeping the club in English football’s second division was almost impossible. However, they gave it a good go before succumbing to the drop with three games remaining.
Derby are hoping to find a buyer, with American Chris Kirchner heading up a potential bid. And Rooney feels getting new investors on board is the only way to rescue the club.
“The takeover has to happen. If the takeover doesn’t happen, then I really fear for where the club will end up,” he told Sky Sports. “The club’s future is in doubt, if (the takeover) doesn’t happen my future is in doubt. So it has to.”
Burnley Rooney hopes linked to Derby future
Burnley are looking for a new manager following the shock decision to part company with Sean Dyche. The 50-year-old was approaching 10 years in charge of the Turf Moor outfit.
But, with relegation looming, the board opted to pull the trigger in the vain hope of a late-season miracle under new guidance. That comes in the form of caretaker boss Mike Jackson, who has inherited a side 18th in the table.
There will be a new permanent man at the helm before the start of next season. Rooney has been strongly linked but has made it clear that if circumstances change at Derby, Burnley might be disappointed.
“If it happens (the takeover), then I want to rebuild the club,” he added. “You see the fans what it means to them every week, this is a special club, a big club.
“We are all proud to be at and I want to be the one to bring the happy days back.”
READ MORE: Burnley ‘keeper admits ‘no one knew’ Sean Dyche sacking would happen
The post ‘My future is in doubt’; Rooney gives Burnley hope but one factor may keep him at Derby appeared first on TEAMtalk.