02 January 2024 , 13:29
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Gary Lineker appeared to win another social media battle with the BBC after the corporation deleted a post on X about Wayne Rooney after the Match of the Day presenter's criticism.
The BBC Sport accounted posted a picture of Rooney dressed up in a flat cap with the caption: "By order of the Peaky Blinders, Wayne Rooney has been sacked by Birmingham City."
And it was immediately met by negative feedback including from Lineker, who replied: "Delete this." The post was subsequently taken down several minutes afterwards.
Rooney says he will “take some time to get over” his dismissal at St Andrews. The former Manchester United and England striker oversaw just two wins in 15 games following his controversial appointment in October. Supporters called for Rooney’s removal as the side slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Leeds on New Year’s Day. The result left the club 20th in the table.
Rooney, however, has said he does not feel he was given long enough and it would take a while to recover from the decision.
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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.”
Rooney has said he is now planning to take a break from the game. The 38-year-old, who has previously managed at Derby County and MLS side DC United, said in a statement: “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.
Wayne Rooney was sacked as Birmingham City boss on Wednesday (Getty Images)“Now, I plan to take some time with my family as I prepare for the next opportunity in my journey as a manager.”
Rooney was controversially brought in at the expense of popular former boss John Eustace by the club’s new ownership group. A takeover by a company owned by American businessman Tom Wagner was completed last summer.
Eustace had lifted Blues away from relegation trouble and into play-off contention during a 15-month spell, with his fine work unraveling during Rooney’s reign.