FORMER Birmingham and Arsenal star Jermaine Pennant has hit out at the Blues’ decision to appoint Wayne Rooney.
The former winger, 40, says that Rooney’s managerial CV – which includes stints at Derby and D.C. United has not earned him the chance to have a crack at the Birmingham job.
Birmingham were in a play-off spot in sixth place when they sacked John Eustace in October.
The club’s new owners, Knighthead, who were fronted by former NFL legend Tom Brady wanted to appoint a marquee name and saw Rooney as the man for the job.
So far, Rooney is yet to win a game as Birmingham manager and his appointment is coming under increased scrutiny.
Speaking to King Casino Bonus, Pennant said: “It’s sad to see what’s happening at Birmingham. John Eustace will be sitting there with a cigar and a cup of tea at home.
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“Birmingham were sitting pretty in sixth, but they’re now 18th and eight points off relegation. That’s a catastrophe and a massive blunder.
“There was no reason to look at Wayne Rooney or any other manager considering what they did last season. I know it’s early days, but it doesn’t look as if it’s going anywhere.
“Wayne Rooney hasn’t earned the right to be given a job like this, but I thought the American owners saw him as a marquee name.
“They need to understand it doesn’t work like that. It’s not American football or basketball, it’s English football, and you need a manager who knows how to win games.’”
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Rooney’s attempt to shift Birmingham away from Eustace’s direct style to a more progressive brand of football has been catastrophic so far.
The England legend has just a solitary point from his five games managed – with that coming surprisingly against second in the table Ipswich.
Rooney has already been subjected to booing from sections of the St Andrews crowd who cannot get their head around the appointment.
And Pennant has said that he does not think the manager has what it takes to turn things around: “We need to ask ourselves how long we give Rooney and his staff.
“I’m not very confident based on what I’m seeing. I’m not sure if things can get better.
“It’s not like they can go out and splash £100 million on players. I’m not sure what they can do in six months’ time to help turn things around.
“I think Birmingham will be in the bottom half, and I think they won’t be far off where they are now – fighting with relegation.”
Pennant also said he was surprised to see Rooney’s assistant Ashley Cole join Rooney at Birmingham, saying: “I can’t say I ever saw Ashley Cole going into coaching.
“We used to speak about it, and he used to say he’d never go into it.
“It was strange to hear he was at the Under-18s a few years ago, and then he went to Chelsea and Derby.
“Fair play to him, but I never saw him having that desire when we played together.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
