Birmingham City sack manager Wayne Rooney after 15 Championship games

Birmingham City on Tuesday, sacked manager Wayne Rooney who won just two of his 15 Championship matches at the helm, seeing the club slip from sixth to 20th in the table, The Athletic reported.

First-team coach Carl Robinson has also been dismissed.

A club statement read: "Birmingham City has today parted company with manager, Wayne Rooney, and first-team coach, Carl Robinson.

"Despite their best efforts, results have not met the expectations that were made clear at the outset. Therefore, the board feels that a change in management is in the best interests of the football club.

"The club’s board and management are fully aligned and will continue to drive transformation and take bold steps to rebuild Birmingham City into the organisation its fans and community deserve. The board would like to place on record their sincere thanks to Wayne and Carl for all of their efforts."

Reacting to the sacking, the former English footballer said: "I would like to thank Tom Wagner, Tom Brady and Garry Cook for the opportunity to manage Birmingham City and the support they all gave me during my short period with the club.

"Football is a results business – and I recognise they have not been at the level I wanted them to be. However, time is the most precious commodity a manager requires and I do not believe 13 weeks was sufficient to oversee the changes that were needed.

"Personally, it will take me some time to get over this setback. I have been involved in professional football, as either a player or manager, since I was 16. Now, I plan to take some time with my family as I prepare for the next opportunity in my journey as a manager."

He also wished the football club and its owners best wishes in the "pursuit of their ambitions".

Meanwhile, professional development coach Steve Spooner will be in charge until a permanent successor is found.

Rooney, who was appointed when Birmingham was in a promotion play-off spot, has been criticised for his poor run of results, including nine league defeats, leaving the club two places above the drop zone.

The former Everton and Manchester United forward left Derby County after 19 months due to a 21-point deduction and a lack of success in the 2021-22 season. He also served 15 months at Major League Soccer (MLS) side DC United, leaving in October after failing to qualify for the playoffs.