Have the Rooneys finally thrashed out a deal over Wayne’s drink-drive nightclub antics?
Koeman ‘disappointed’ by drink drive charge but won’t drop star
COLEEN Rooney was yesterday seen in public for the first time since her husband was charged with drinkdriving in another woman’s car.
The wife of the former England captain was pictured shopping close to her Cheshire home.
The mother of three, who is expecting the couple’s fourth child next year, was dressed in a grey hooded sweatshirt, leggings and black trainers.
It came as unconfirmed reports claimed that Rooney, 31, whose drinking has landed him in trouble previously, had struck a deal to change his ways for the sake of his marriage.
He has allegedly offered to go teetotal – but only if his wife spends more time at the family home by cutting back on her lavish holidays.
So far this year, the 31-year-old has been on ten trips this year with destinations including Amsterdam, Madrid, Majorca, Ibiza, Las Vegas, Barbados and Portugal. The report was denied by a source close to the couple last night.
Mrs Rooney was said to be ‘livid’ after her husband was arrested after driving Laura Simpson’s car early last Friday.
The 29-year-old lettings agent claimed Rooney had chatted her up in a bar during a ten-hour drinking session.
Miss Simpson, who allowed Rooney to drive her VW Beetle at 2am, said the pair had ‘kissed and cuddled’ after he complimented her on her breasts.
She admitted she would probably have had sex with the Everton striker had they not been pulled over by police. It was unclear whether Mrs Rooney was wearing her wedding ring yesterday, but Rooney turned up to Everton training with his wedding band on.
In his first press conference since Rooney’s tawdry antics came to light, Everton manager Ronald Koeman said he was ‘very disappointed’ with the footballer’s behaviour. But he refused to discuss any disciplinary action the club may take against him.
Koeman confirmed that former Manchester United ace Rooney, who is due to appear before magistrates in Stockport on September 18, had a meeting with club chairman Bill Kenwright on Tuesday.
RONALD Koeman has expressed his disappointment in Wayne Rooney but will not punish his off-field transgression by dropping him.
Everton’s manager spoke about Rooney for the first time yesterday following his arrest last Friday and subsequent charge for drink-driving.
Koeman would not accept specific questions about the incident and read out a prepared statement at his weekly media conference. Rooney will appear before magistrates on September 18 and until the judicial process has run its course, Everton will not take any disciplinary action against the 31-year-old, who left Finch Farm yesterday afternoon after training had finished.
He has been involved in every session since returning from four days off and will start against Tottenham tomorrow.
‘Obviously I am very disappointed by this situation regarding Wayne,’ said Koeman, reading from a sheet of paper. ‘With any disciplinary matter this will be dealt with internally at an appropriate time and that is all I have to say.’
Pressed on whether he was in the right frame of mind to be considered to play against Tottenham, Koeman was firm and replied: ‘He will play this Saturday. If I see that Wayne is not in a physical or mental condition to play, then he won’t play.’ Koeman also took the opportunity to speak to Ross Barkley, who had rejected the chance to join Chelsea on deadline day even though a £35million deal had been agreed.
Barkley, who is out for three months with a torn hamstring, would prefer to move to Tottenham, who will return for him in January.
It is unlikely that Barkley will play for Everton before then as Koeman would be reluctant to give the player minutes just to improve his match fitness before moving to a rival.
‘Ross came to see me on Tuesday and he explained to me why he turned down Chelsea,’ said Koeman. ‘That is a private talk with Ross.
‘Of course it’s a strange situation because everybody knew that he did not sign a new contract at Everton.
‘It surprised me all that stuff came in the last day of the transfer window. Because if you know a player will not sign a new contract you have the whole summer if you want the player. And that’s strange in my opinion.’
Meanwhile, Everton say their plans for a new stadium will not be affected by Liverpool losing out to Birmingham as Commonwealth Games hosts.
The club hope to be given planning permission next year to build on the land.