Rooney sacked by Birmingham after disastrous 15-game spell - ESPN

Wayne Rooney has been fired as Birmingham City manager after a run of nine defeats in 15 games left the team on the brink of the EFL Championship relegation zone.

Birmingham's American owners, Knighthead Capital Management led by the company's co-found Tom Wagner, removed Rooney from his post on Tuesday following a 3-0 defeat at Leeds United on New Year's Day.

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In a statement released on Tuesday, Birmingham said: «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."

The club thanked Rooney and Robinson for their time and said professional development coach Steve Spooner would take on responsibility for coaching the club on an interim basis.

Sources have told ESPN that the position of Garry Cook, the Birmingham chief executive who hired Rooney, is also under scrutiny but that the former Manchester City and Saudi Pro League CEO remains in post at this stage.

«Unfortunately, Wayne's time with us did not go as planned and we have decided to move in a different direction,» Cook said in Birmingham's statement.

«The search for a successor begins with immediate effect and we will update supporters when we have further news.»

Former Manchester United and England forward Rooney, who left his job as coach of MLS side D.C. United to take charge of Birmingham in October, was subjected to chants of «You're getting sacked in the morning» by his own team's supporters at Leeds.

Having inherited a side that was in the Championship