The Devon-based outfit are preparing for a second successive season of Championship football after narrowly escaping an immediate return to League One on the final day of the season.
Argyle were in an extremely stable position prior to their return to the second tier for the first time since 2010 but their first experiences of the division since then proved rather unsettling from Christmas onwards as Steven Schumacher departed to join Stoke City before Ian Foster endured a short, but far from sweet spell in charge at Home Park, with director of football Neil Dewsnip taking interim charge on two separate occasions.
However, the appointment of Rooney so early in the off-season gives the Green Army ample time to prepare for a season of progression in the division and their long-term aims.
Social media users’ reactions to Rooney’s May 25th hiring were conflicted, considering his record from his last season at Birmingham City—who were ultimately demoted on the last day of the season after Plymouth defeated Hull City.
However, the aforementioned Hallett now believes supporters are now on side when it comes to the appointment in an interview with Plymouth Live, as well as making a surprise admission regarding the 38-year-old’s stature in English football.
He said: “I certainly get the sense people are getting behind it. I think the reason is we have explained what the thinking was.”
“I think the immediate reaction was ‘Here’s a guy who failed in his last appointment, they are just reaching out and grabbing a celebrity’, and that was anything but the truth.”
“Wayne’s celebrity status, if anything, was a negative,” the Argyle chairman claimed. “What was positive about him is his ability to relate to people – to players, to staff, to sponsors, and so on. I think the cultural fit with Wayne was the closest of all the candidates.”
Hallett continued the conversation by discussing the positive impact a head coach with a notable background may have on the team, especially in the transfer market.
With a budget far different from some of their divisional opponents and geographic considerations frequently influencing the decisions of those on transfer shortlists, Argyle has demonstrated their capacity to make astute moves, especially in the Championship.Being the underdog is kind of a perpetual fight, and I believe that’s what makes us appreciate it. We felt Wayne was the finest candidate to help us win football games, so we hired him,” the man continued.
“We’re going to need to figure out how to use the attention that comes with that for our
The 68-year-old said: “Wayne’s status as a celebrity is one thing, but his status as one of the dominant footballers of his generation is another, and I think that is something we will definitely be able to turn to our advantage in terms of attracting players down here, which is not always easy.”
Even though Plymouth only had two wins in their last 15 games, some of their highly-rated midfielders and attacking outlets, like Morgan Whittaker, who was traded by Rooney to Swansea City from Derby County while he was at Pride Park, could learn from Birmingham City’s Jordan James. James mentioned the assistance the former Manchester United player provided him in B9.
After difficult stints as manager in the West Midlands and at MLS team D.C. United, Rooney may find the transfer to Home Park to be the perfect opportunity to turn the corner in his managerial career, given Plymouth’s commitment to developing young, homegrown managers.
Given that Plymouth is a Championship underdog, the Liverpudlian will undoubtedly feel under pressure to live up to his claims that he wasn’t given enough time in charge at his last club.
With the season beginning on August 10th, all eyes will be on Rooney, who will be looking for a quick start to allay the worries of any remaining skeptics.
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