Ex-Birmingham City manager Wayne Rooney has received the backing of the Plymouth chairman and owner Simon Hallett who has pledged to support the Manchester United legend, rather than replace him.

The Pilgrims' owner and chairman gave his backing to Rooney during a fans' forum staged by the Plymouth Argyle Cornish Supporters' Association last night, PlymouthLive reports.

It came after reports in the national media that the 39-year-old was 'fighting for his job' ahead of back-to-back home games against Oxford United and Swansea City.

Injury-hit Argyle have dropped to 21st position in the Championship after heavy defeats away to Norwich City (6-1) and Bristol City (4-0) last week, while they have won just one of their last nine games and lost five of them.

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Hallett told the fans' forum at St Dennis Working Men's Club: "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."

The club's director of football Neil Dewsnip also attended the fans' forum and came out in support of Rooney. "He's incredibly motivated to get Argyle to safety and then onwards and upwards from there."

He continued: "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."

Hallett spoke further to Plymouth Live's Argyle reporter Chris Errington about Rooney after a 90-minute question and answer session at the fans' forum.

"Is he under pressure? Absolutely, we are all under pressure," said Hallett. "But there has been no conversation about changing the head coach, none at all. There has been lots of conversation about can we give him the best possible support. We will do that.

"What is it he needs? Do we need a sports psychologist? Do we need a set piece coach? Do we need this, do we need that? What is it around him that is going to best help him succeed? We are looking at any way we can to support him."

Rooney has a record of four wins - all of them at Home Park - from 18 league games while the Pilgrims have also drawn five times and suffered nine defeats, to leave them two points above the Championship relegation zone.

The Telegraph have reported that the Manchester United and England legend is fighting for his future in Devon and that the next two games are pivotal in whether he keeps his job or not.

The Pilgrims job is Rooney's first since he was sacked from Blues in January earlier this year. The 39-year-old lasted just three months after replacing John Eustace in October 2023 who had City in sixth, with the former England international taking the club down to 20th place in the Championship, winning just two games out of 15.

Rooney arrived at Plymouth in May with plenty of time to prepare for the 2024/25 Championship season but has struggled to get the best out of his players. An 4-0 opening day defeat to Sheffield Wednesday is one of four losses with a goal difference of either four or more, with the club's loss tally totalling nine for the season which is half of their 18 league games played.

With just four wins and five draws, Argyle currently sit only one place and two points above the relegation zone.

After the defeat at Ashton Gate on Saturday, Rooney admitted that the past two games had arguably been "the toughest and hardest week" of his managerial career so far, also stating that it was difficult not to feel "embarrassed" after the most recent loss.

The next two crucial games are against newly-promoted Oxford United, who are a point ahead in 17th place, and Swansea City, who are 13th and five points clear of Plymouth.

With tricky games against league-leaders Sheffield United and playoff-placed Middlesbrough to follow, the next two are make-or-break for Rooney who needs to win.

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