BBC deletes post mocking Man United icon Wayne Rooney’s Birmingham sacking after Gary Lineker reply

The BBC has deleted a social media post appearing to mock the sacking of Wayne Rooney as Birmingham City boss after Gary Lineker responded with a sharp reply.

The former Manchester United striker was relieved of his duties at St Andrew’s after just 15 games with Birmingham sinking from sixth to 20th in the Championship table during his period at the helm. The Blues won only two games under Rooney, losing nine others.

The BBC Sport X (formerly Twitter) account posted a photo of Rooney in a flat cap with the caption: "By order of the Peaky Blinders, Wayne Rooney has been sacked by Birmingham City," in reference to the hit TV drama series.

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Lineker felt this was below the belt and promptly replied: "Delete this." The post was subsequently taken down having also drawn criticism from other social media users.

Rooney himself has taken to social media to release a statement about his sacking, stating that he will now take a break from having previously managed at Derby County and US franchise DC United.

The 38-year-old said: "I would like to thank [co-owners] Tom Wagner, Tom Brady and Garry Cook for the opportunity to manage Birmingham City FC and the support they 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.