Why Rooney won’t be fazed by enormity of challenge

WAYNE Rooney’s reaction to Derby County’s latest body blow came as no surprise, writes Steve Nicholson.

News emerged this week that the total points penalty handed to the Rams for a combination of financial breaches and being placed into administration reached 21.

The punishment has left Rooney’s team bottom of the Championship on minus three points, 18 from safety and facing the realistic prospect of relegation to League One.

Rooney has constantly fielded questions over his future since being installed as manager. In many press conferences, both pre-match and post-match, he has been asked if he had considered walking away from the troubled club.

He has been steadfast in his reply. And he remains steadfast in his commitment to the club.

“I am committed to this club and committed to getting this club back to where it belongs. I really care for this club. I’m grateful to Derby County for giving me my first job in football as manager and I want to repay the club and repay the fans for their support,” Rooney told RamsTV.

Rooney has endured a tough baptism in management. Positive results have been in short supply and could, and should, have been better, but there have been, and still are, mitigating circumstances.

What has been clear in my many dealings with Rooney is his determination to be a success as a manager. You can see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice.

Everyone knows what he did as a player and what a glittering career he had. He was a fantastically talented footballer but now it is all about Wayne Rooney the manager for him.

Many people looking in from the outside will wonder why he has not walked away from what is happening at Derby. His stance tells you an awful lot about him.

He is a fighter, he was as a player and remains so.

The enormity of the challenge will not faze him, if anything he will relish it.

There has been absolutely no suggestion or indication of him eyeing the exit door.

The calmness and leadership he has displayed in an incredibly testing situation has won him many admirers. Even some of those who were critical of him as a manager last season appear to have been won over.

He has played a key role in a new bond between players, manager and fans.

There is a real togetherness. Of course, League One would throw up a different scenario but if he is able to rebuild the team and squad his way, attract the players he wants when embargo and restrictions allow, and return the club to better days, that would sit very nicely on his managerial CV.

And having an inconic name at the helm of the club, a name known throughout the football world, is likely to sit well with prospective new owners.