Rooney’s never run away... he steps up with Pride

THERE are usually just a few Derby County fans around when Wayne Rooney heads into the main stand at Pride Park to conduct post-match interviews.

Before putting on the headphones, Rooney is routinely applauded to his position.

Those supporters don’t do it because the former Manchester United and England striker is some kind of phoney. Or because they’re happy about propping up the rest of the second tier.

They recognise that in their midst is someone trying to do the right thing for Derby County – even if it comes at significant personal cost with a relegation on his CV.

That Rooney has character is no surprise – that much we knew already. When you join one of the biggest clubs in the world as an 18-year-old, it’s the one quality you cannot do without. Playing on one of the biggest stages, under the most intense scrutiny, for 14 years takes immense mental strength.

And to finish your career as the leading goalscorer for that club – and also your country – shows not just talent but also the ability to withstand the fiercest of pressure.

At that level every aspect of your life is under the microscope.

At times it hasn’t made for great reading. A few drunken scrapes and some marital misdemeanours have been played out for the world to see. The Scouser could have been forgiven for turning his back on the football circus altogether.

But only in management are we seeing the depth of his personality.

Unfortunately for Rooney, on the face of it at least, he’s picked the wrong club to cut his teeth.

Derby County are a strange old beast. On the cusp of building a dynasty under Brian Clough – they won the First Division title in 1972 – now teetering on the edge of third-tier football. And not for the first time.

A 21-point deduction for a variety of financial shenanigans damns former owner Mel Morris.

Even prior to going into administration, Rooney could have left Derby at any time and picked up the pieces again elsewhere – most likely in the Championship.

But instead he’s stayed put and shown proper leadership at a time the club desperately need it.

If accommodation has needed paying for, he’s stuck his hand in his pocket. If meal bills were waiting to be settled, Rooney settled them.

A drone, used to analyse sessions by the coaching staff, flies over training at Moor Farm. Rooney stumps up for that.

Since Morris left him in the lurch, the former England striker has spoken of loyalty and ‘bringing dignity back’ to Pride Park.

He’s begged and borrowed players, cajoling the likes of Phil Jagielka, Curtis Davies and Ravel Morrison into joining a fight that looked doomed from the start.

It takes integrity to stick around when the flak is flying. No one wants to be associated with failure.

Wayne Rooney, the footballer, we thought we knew.

Wayne Rooney, the manager, is shaping up to have just as much character as he did when he was banging in goals for a living.

Rooney has stayed put and shown proper leadership at a time when the club desperately needs it