Nottingham Forest comment made about future of former Derby County boss Wayne Rooney

Former Nottingham Forest striker Dean Saunders has said Wayne Rooney should not take an "impossible" job such as trying to win the Premier League with the Reds.

Saunders, who also represented Derby during his playing career, made the comment when discussing where Rooney should go next after leaving the Rams over the weekend.

“Whatever league he takes a job in, whether it’s League One, the Championship or the Premier League, he has to go to a club where he thinks he has a chance of doing well," Saunders said on talkSPORT. “If he takes an impossible job, for example, Nottingham Forest to try and win the Premier League, it’s an impossible job.

“If the owner says that their budget is the tenth highest in the league and he said that wants you to get in the play-offs, then I’d be saying ‘hang on a minute, there’s ten teams that have spent more money than us, I know I can coach my way into the top four but that’s a tough job you’ve given me’.

“But if they say they’ve got the highest budget in the league but they just want to get in the play-offs as a minimum, that’s a good job. Whatever league it is, give yourself the best chance of doing well. Don’t take an impossible job now because that will be the end of him.”

To say the least, that is an unusual example for Saunders to use given head coach Steve Cooper is on the verge of a new contract and is virtually untouchable after securing promotion.