Rooney ‘fighting to save his job’ & he faces two games to avoid sack at Plymouth

Pressure is mounting on Wayne Rooney after his Plymouth Argyle side were thumped by Bristol City and Norwich.

Plymouth currently sit 21st in the Championship after a 4-0 defeat at Ashton Gate on Saturday.

That defeat came just four days after the Devon side were defeated 6-1 at Carrow Road.

In total, since taking over at Home Park in May, Rooney has overseen 20 games as Plymouth boss, winning five, drawing five and losing 10.

According to The Telegraph, Rooney is now fighting for his future and Plymouth's next two games would be crucial in whether he stays or goes.

Plymouth's next two games are both at home: against Oxford on Saturday and against Swansea on December 10.

If Rooney loses his job, his departure from Home Park could coincide with his wife Coleen's return from Australia, where she is currently taking part in the reality TV show 'I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!'

The finale of this year's jungle-based reality TV series will take place on December 8.

Rooney said after Saturday's defeat that he had just endured the 'hardest week of my managerial career'.

Speaking to the media after seeing his team concede four second-half goals at Bristol City, Rooney said: 'I've been criticized my whole career since I was a boy of 16.

'What you always want are weapons to fight back with. We don't have one at the moment.

“So we have to take it upon ourselves and hope we can get through this because the last two games have been perhaps the toughest and most difficult week of my managerial career.

“So I have to find a way to get through it, but also get that message across to the players to make sure I lift them up.”

Rooney's Plymouth have now conceded four or more goals in four different away games this season.

The former England captain admitted he was embarrassed when he went to Plymouth on Saturday to thank Plymouth fans.

“I know the support the fans have given us, they have come here in droves and it was the same on Tuesday night.

“It was really hard to walk there and not be ashamed to show our appreciation to the fans.”

Rooney is currently in his fourth spell in management. He started his career in the dugout at Derby in November 2020 and has since been in charge of DC United and Birmingham.