What Simon Hallett first said when Plymouth Argyle appointed Wayne Rooney - It was not pretty after that | OneFootball

Wayne Rooney's Plymouth Argyle reign was something chairman Simon Hallett didn't expect

Wayne Rooney's Plymouth Argyle reign lasted a mere seven months, overseeing just four league wins in 23 Championship matches, something chairman Simon Hallett certainly didn't expect to happen when he first appointed the Manchester United legend.

As exclusively revealed by FLW on Thursday, Macclesfield FC boss Robbie Savage is closing in on a move to Forest Green Rovers - and reports now suggest the Silkmen want Rooney as his replacement, something those at Home Park would strongly disapprove of.

During Rooney's tenure at Plymouth, he set an unwanted Championship record for the most goals conceded after 22 games - 49. The pilgrims let in ten of those after the first two games.

But when Rooney's appointment was announced, Hallett was full of praise for the former England captain - FLW take a look at what exactly was said, and the nightmare that followed.

Simon Hallet's words on Wayne Rooney preceded Plymouth Argyle disaster

Plymouth Argyle chairman Simon Hallett's confidence was unwavering on the day Wayne Rooney was appointed as head coach in May 2024.

"Throughout the interview process, Wayne showed himself to be a passionate, intelligent, and knowledgeable candidate with an appetite to prove himself and develop his managerial career," Hallet stated in the official announcement.

"So much so, that he reached out to the Board when we started this process and was attracted by the project at hand and showed a real plan on how to lead the football club forward."

Hallet had emphasised that Rooney's aims and ambitions matched the clubs perfectly and described him as the ideal person to deliver an attacking brand of football that gets people excited - it didn't go to plan.

Wayne Rooney's Plymouth Argyle appointment was a nightmare at Home Park

What transpired after those confident words was nothing short of catastrophic, and the stats tell a damning story of a team in complete defensive disarray under his management.

Their away form was particularly woeful, managing no wins from 13 - picking up only two points and three goals scored.

Arguably the lowest point came with a winless nine-game streak that included humiliating defeats such as a 6-0 thrashing at Norwich City and a 4-0 loss to Bristol City.

Even as results deteriorated, Hallett initially stood by his man. In December last year, with Argyle in 21st place and fans calling for change, the chairman publicly declared he wasn't going anywhere and people needed to support him.

However, that support was short-lived, as by December 31st the mutual agreement for Rooney's departure was announced - with the Pilgrims sitting bottom of the table.

Looking at the bigger picture following Wayne Rooney, Plymouth Argyle disaster

Hallett's initial enthusiasm for Rooney reflects the optimism of football decision-makers when appointing high-profile names - something that can perhaps be expected with Macclesfield owner Robert Smethurst.

There's no doubt Rooney accelerated Argyle's downfall, with his overall managerial record now reading a dismal win rate of barely 25 percent across 179 matches. His successor, Miron Muslic, ultimately had too much on his plate and couldn't save them from relegation - albeit a slim chance on the final day.

What was meant to be an exciting new chapter for Plymouth became one of the most disappointing appointments in recent Championship history - arguably costing the club their second-tier status.