Derby County are set to sack their under pressure manager and replace him immediately with a player, according to reports.
The Rams face Watford in the Championship on Friday night and another defeat could spell the end for under-fire Phillip Cocu.
His side have won just once and been defeated three times in their four league games played so far this season, leaving them 20th in the second tier table.
Sources are insisting that Cocu was only saved from the sack before the international break because of Rooney’s late winner at Norwich a fortnight ago.
Yet he is still on the brink, and owner Mel Morris plans to turn to former Manchester United and England star Wayne Rooney if they lose against the Hornets.
He is still to get all his Football Association badges for going into management, so if he was to become manager of Derby this season, he will need an experienced, fully-qualified coach alongside him, and again it’s named in reports that former Rams manager John Gregory and Mike Phelan are lined up for that role.
It was in August 2019 that Rooney left DC United in America before joining Derby, leaving many up and down the nation surprised. He is currently player-coach on an 18-month contract — with a further one-year option.
He began his coaching badges within months and revealed that his first starting thinking about what he’d do after his playing career when he was still at Manchester United.
Rooney admits he always wanted to become a manager one day, and revealed on arriving at Championship club Derby: “I’ve always been interested in it.
“When Louis van Gaal was manager at United, Ryan Giggs was analysing the opponents and I used to go in there for a few hours after training.”
Rooney is both England and the Red Devils’ all-time leading goalscorer, with 53 and 253 respectively, while his form for Derby has also been impressive.
The 34 year old striker has six goals and three assists in the Championship since joining Derby last January, but the club have still struggled on the pitch.
They finished 10th in the Championship last season, six points behind the playoffs.
Fans reacted after hearing that Derby on the verge of sacking their manager and replacing him immediately with a player…
Cocu must of known this the day Rooney signed. Probably didn’t want to sign him…was dead man walking from day 1.
— Star Strike Soccer (@graemedoyle3) October 14, 2020
How can Championship clubs pleed poverty to the government if they are going to chuck money away paying managers off
— ian scaife ?? (@ianscaife1) October 15, 2020
@Wounded_Bear errrr what? pic.twitter.com/NCtGQZF7Vp
— Tom (@TommyOwl87) October 15, 2020
*Wayne Rooney’s Derby County
— J L (@17LUFC) October 14, 2020
God help them!!
— Alastair Smith (@smudger6952) October 14, 2020
Hasn’t got management in him.
— GSB OUT (@OutGsb) October 14, 2020
Please make it happen ???
— ???????⭐??⭐??????? (@trickyred7980) October 15, 2020
Wayne Rooney alongside…John Gregory! pic.twitter.com/tUvS2erW1M
— Jonno Baker (@jonnobaker316) October 14, 2020
Just no
— George (@dcfcGeorge_) October 14, 2020
Ik it’s not true but IF derby did sack Cocu and made Rooney manager that will be the worst decision the club will have ever made and they can fuck off
— George (@dcfcGeorge_) October 14, 2020
Rooney to be new derby manager fuckin stick on said it weeks ago
— Colin Burrows (@TheBuzzard1319) October 14, 2020
If we sack Cocu I am done with football #dcfc
— Robbo (@RobK1996) October 15, 2020
Interesting story
Regarding Cocu I am split down the middle, understand the need / desire for continuity but equally do I think he’s the right manager?
Not sure, turgid slow football but will back whoever is in the seat #dcfc— Callum (@callumdcfc1) October 15, 2020
Well it has been quiet on the Derby front this international break, hasn’t it?
– signing wise, striker is the priority
– love Wilson back, but striker first
– Kazim-Richards is a stinker of a link
– Reports of sacking Cocu for Rooney/Gregory combo, is mental #dcfc— Stair 35 (@Stair35dcfc) October 15, 2020
No no no no no and no thank you. #dcfc https://t.co/jucU53qH1M
— The Fans Derby County (@fans_county) October 15, 2020
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