Birmingham City appears poised to remove John Eustace from his position and appoint Wayne Rooney as his successor. The club has enjoyed a strong start to the 2023/24 season, currently sitting in 6th place in the Championship after winning their last two matches, including a 3-1 victory over West Brom in their most recent game.
However, it appears that Eustace’s time at the helm is coming to an end. Reports suggest that a deal to bring in Rooney to replace Eustace has been finalized, and many view this decision as quite harsh towards Eustace, who has received praise for his team’s performances this season.
Journalist Neil Moxley took to Twitter to provide some clarity on the situation at Birmingham City, stating that the chief executive officer, Garry Cook, is the driving force behind Rooney’s impending arrival at St Andrew’s. Moxley emphasized that Eustace enjoys significant support at the training ground and is well-liked by nearly everyone at the club. He likened this situation to a previous scenario involving managers Rowett and Zola, suggesting that the focus should be on Cook’s role rather than the manager.
In recent news, it was revealed that Rooney left his position at D.C. United after the club failed to make it to the MLS Cup playoffs. The 37-year-old returned to the United States in July last year.
This move to replace Eustace with Rooney has left many Birmingham City fans questioning the decision. Given the positive summer and season start, they wonder why the club would replace an experienced coach like Eustace with a high-profile player like Rooney. There are doubts about Rooney’s tactical abilities as a manager, with some attributing his success at Derby County to the influence of Liam Rosenior.
While Eustace may have overseen some disappointing results this season, the fact that Birmingham City currently sits in 6th place suggests that sacking him might be seen as a drastic move. There is uncertainty surrounding whether Rooney can deliver success for the club, with few expecting this change to yield immediate positive results.