'Getting jobs because he’s Wayne Rooney' - Man Utd legend claims Plymouth boss is being 'protected' & suggests 'management might not be for him' after 'worst possible start' to Championship season

After a nightmare journey with Birmingham City as their manager last season which lasted just 83 days, Rooney returned to management this May after taking charge of Plymouth. However, his journey in the 2024-25 Championship season has got off to a horrible start. In their season opener, Plymouth went down 4-0 against Sheffield Wednesday. While they bounced back in the first round of the EFL Cup as they beat Cheltenham 3-0, Plymouth could only manage a 1-1 draw against Hull in the second match of the Championship.

With Rooney's side currently struggling at the 21st position in the league, Yorke has attacked Manchester United's all-time record goalscorer and questioned his managerial credentials. The former Red Devil also alleged that the 38-year-old's friends in football have been "protecting" him after failed spells at D.C. United and Birmingham City.

Speaking to CSGOluck, the 52-year-old said: "We have all tried to defend Wayne Rooney on his managerial record in the chances he has been given but you can only defend him for so long. He’s got a real opportunity to show what he can do and show how he can get his team playing but they got off to the worst start possible. ‌So far in management, he’s been given chance after chance and done very little in terms of success, that’s out there and it’s well documented and you can only defend that record for so long.

"He needs to do better at management, simple. He's got friends in football that are protecting him and now he needs to give something back. I can defend him but he’s had the platform to succeed and so far he hasn’t delivered."

He added: "You've got to show why you're worthy of being a manager and there will come a point in time when someone has to tell him the truth and the real truth about his managerial career. I give him the benefit of the doubt because I know Rooney himself, but he has to do better and that start hasn't helped him. If that continues, maybe management is not for him. I won't say that is the case just yet, but he's getting jobs because he’s Wayne Rooney. He needs to do better."

Rooney's men will aim to register their first win of the new Championship season on Saturday as they take on QPR away from home.