Sack or support? Plymouth’s actual stance on Wayne Rooney revealed as Pilgrims owner explains what Championship strugglers intend to do with Man Utd legend

The Devon-based outfit have slipped to 21st in the Championship, with only one win secured through their last nine fixtures – with heavy defeats to Norwich (6-1) and Bristol City (4-0) leading to uncomfortable questions being asked of Plymouth’s coaching team and board.

It has been suggested that Rooney faces two make-or-break home games against Oxford and Swansea, with positive results required there in order to keep his head off the chopping block. Chairman Simon Hallett has, however, explained the club’s immediate plans.

Hallett told a fans’ forum staged by the Plymouth Argyle Cornish Supporters’ Association: “Clearly, we are all under pressure. We are not playing well, we are not doing on the pitch what we wanted us to do. So we are all feeling the pressure. Fans are feeling the pressure, the board is feeling the pressure and Wayne is feeling the pressure. What we are going to do is not think about getting rid of him and changing him. We are thinking about how we can support him. So there are no conversations going on about replacing Wayne but there are conversations going on about how we can support him to help him become the great coach we think is in there.”

Plymouth’s director of football Neil Dewsnip added on the Rooney exit rumours: “He's incredibly motivated to get Argyle to safety and then onwards and upwards from there. He's desperate to help Argyle to be successful. Success is staying in the league, doing a little bit better than that if we can. He talks about being safe four games from the end of the season. There's a thought. That's his own personal goal. When we have all our players back (from injury), I believe very positively that Wayne will be exactly the right head coach for us so we just have to give him the best chance.”

Rooney has spent just 20 games in charge of Plymouth, having only previously managed 15 during a forgettable stint at Birmingham. He is fully committed to his current post, having relocated to the south coast away from his wife Coleen and their four sons, but is aware of the need to deliver on expectations in order for his contract to be honoured and content to be provided for a documentary series that remains in the pipeline.