ROON’S IN TUNE AT CITY
A MOVE into the non-league has caused quite a stir amid the transfer window mayhem that saw more than £1billion change hands in the professional arena.
The fallout from Adam Rooney’s tier-dropping switch from the Scottish Premiership, from Aberdeen to National League Salford City, is still continuing.
A fee of around £150,000 and reported wages not far shy of £4,000 a week have ensured the 30-year-old Dublin-born striker has produced almost as many headlines as his namesake Wayne, now plying his trade in the MLS.
Accrington Stanley owner Andy Holt can only look on with envy at the budget Salford manager Graham Alexander (below) has at his disposal, accusing the club that is run by Manchester United’s class of 92 of buying their way into the Football League.
Gary Neville – who together with brother Phil, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have overseen three promotions in four seasons – has responded in kind in a twitter war with Holt.
He insisted the band of former Old Trafford brothers are proud of their investment since taking over in 2014.
It’s why Rooney, Aberdeen’s leading scorer for the past four seasons, was persuaded to swap life in the Granite City for a season of playing at places like Gateshead, Maidstone and Dover.
“I wasn’t keen to go somewhere else in Scotland,” he said. “The ambition that Salford has intrigues me. Where they want to take the club is exciting.”
Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes was desperate to hold on to the ex-Stoke, Birmingham and Oldham forward but can see the attraction of the move for the player.
He said: “Salford are a team in a hurry to do well and they certainly showed their ambition in trying to sign him.”
Rooney grabbed his first goal in midweek for the club who start the season as 2-1 favourites to finish top. It wasn’t enough to prevent defeats against Gateshead in midweek and Sutton yesterday.