There were some mitigating factors to Rooney’s demise at Plymouth – some avoidable, some not so.
As head coach, rather than manager, he could not be held solely responsible for transfers, though his reputation in the game played a part in some players opting to join.
However, it was clear the signing of experienced Iceland defender Victor Palsson – who played under Rooney at DC United – was one he had pushed for.
The former Liverpool academy player managed just eight appearances under Rooney, struggling with form and injury, and with the January transfer window now opening it did not inspire confidence in his eye for a player.
“To be fair to Wayne he’s been dealt a tricky hand – we have the smallest budget in the division, we’re a small fish in an incredibly large pond, we’re consistently punching above our weight and he had to come in and overachieve,” Bell said.
“I do feel for Wayne because it is a difficult job – it is tricky to try and keep Plymouth Argyle in the Championship. We did it by the skin of our teeth last year and unfortunately, as much as I’d like an easier season, I think we’ll probably have to do it the same way again this year.”
One thing Rooney could certainly not be blamed for was Argyle’s crippling injury list.
He has been without the spine of his team, including captain Joe Edwards – now caretaker manager – on-loan Toulouse livewire Ibrahim Cissoko and Morgan Whittaker, who scored 20 goals last season and was the subject of a multimillion-pound bid from Italian giants Lazio last January.
It meant 16-year-old academy product Tegan Finn had to start their 4-0 defeat at Coventry on Boxing Day.
“Unfortunately, despite having an injury list the length of anybody’s arm, it’s not worked out for Wayne and the time had to come.
“A lot of people in defence of Wayne have asked: ‘Who could have done better?'”
“The simple fact is we don’t know, we’ll only find out now.”
