Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Argyle successor says he ‘tried his best’ with relegation looming

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Plymouth Argyle are facing relegation going into the final day of the Championship season.

The 23rd-place side needs a 14-goal swing to survive at home to Leeds, something that Leeds are unlikely permit as Daniel Farke’s men chase 100 points to win the title. 

With their future feeling like it’s already sealed, it’s easy to question where it all went wrong.

And Plymouth’s current manager has emphasised that his predecessor is not to blame for The Pilgrims’ likely relegation. 

Miron Muslic defends former Plymouth manager Wayne Rooney

“I will never point the finger at others,” Muslic said. “I’ve been here for four months, I’ve never mentioned Wayne Rooney once publicly, never.

“I think he tried his best 100%. He tried his best and I tried my best too, and unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.”

Rooney was dismissed seven months into his three-year contract, gaining just four league wins and 13 defeats in 23 Championship matches in charge.

At the time of Rooney’s sacking, Plymouth were without a win since beating Portsmouth on November 5 – a run which extended back nine matches.

A 4-0 defeat at Coventry on Boxing Day was followed up with a 2-0 loss at Oxford, left the club on 18 points from 23 games and four points from safety.

The departing Rooney said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Board of Plymouth Argyle Football Club, in particular Simon Hallett and Neil Dewsnip who I shared great relationships with.

“Thanks also to all the staff who made me feel welcome and who make the club such a special place, the players and fans for their efforts and support during my time as Head Coach and I wish them all the best for the future.

“To the Green Army thanks for making the games at Home Park so special, they are memories that we will share forever.”

Since taking over in January, Muslic has led Plymouth to eight wins and eight losses in 21 matches.

Where did Plymouth Argyle go wrong?

Without wanting to kick a team when they’re down, Argyle are lacking at both ends of the pitch.

They have conceded more goals than any other side in the Championship, while a recent flurry of eight goals in the past four games has seen them become the highest-scoring side in the bottom third of the table – but it was too little too late.

The lack of another striker was key – with Muhamed Tijani out for most of the season with hamstring issues, and Ryan Hardie’s injury record over the Christmas and New Year period, goals were hard to come by.

Lamenting that his side ran out of time to change course, Miron Muslic has made a “heart-broken” admission as Plymouth Argyle face imminent Championship relegation.

Having won four of their past six games they gave themselves a chance until Luton’s late heroics over Coventry on Saturday left them effectively down.

With their place in League One next season all but confirmed, they are potentially in a more powerful position financially than when they were promoted.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
20	PrestonPreston	45	10	19	16	46	57	-11	49
21	LutonLuton	45	13	10	22	42	64	-22	49
22	Hull CityHull City	45	12	12	21	43	53	-10	48
23	PlymouthPlymouth	45	11	13	21	50	86	-36	46
24	CardiffCardiff	45	9	17	19	46	69	-23	44

They have profited from two years of the Championship’s bigger television deal and have invested in infrastructure, such as a new training ground and modifications at Home Park.

The test for Muslic to both retain key players and build a promotion-ready squad is the very condition upon which Plymouth Argyle have been tipped for an immediate bounce-back from League One next year.