Former Birmingham City player slams Wayne Rooney's short tenure as manager

Pennant, who played for the Blues in 2005 and 2006, strongly disagreed with the club's decision to fire former manager John Eustace last month in favour of Wayne Rooney, who joined the Championship side after two unsuccessful seasons in charge of MLS side D.C. United. 

The results at St Andrew's speak for themselves, Pennant said.

"It's sad to see what's happening at Birmingham," Pennant told King Casino Bonus. "John Eustace will be sitting there with a cigar and a cup of tea at home.

"Birmingham were sitting pretty in sixth, but they're now 18th and eight points off relegation. That's a catastrophe and a massive blunder.

"There was no reason to look at Wayne Rooney or any other manager considering what they did last season. I know it's early days, but it doesn't look as if it's going anywhere. 

"Wayne Rooney hasn't earned the right to be given a job like this, but I thought the American owners saw him as a marquee name.

"They need to understand it doesn't work like that. It's not American football or basketball, it's English football, and you need a manager who knows how to win games.’’

Pennant also slammed the club's owners — who took charge in April — for their "weird" public proclamations of a Premier League future given the team's current standing, saying that he understands "why the fans are so upset."

But the 40-year-old reiterated that it's Rooney's management that have put the club in a potential relegation fight after they started the season looking like possible challengers for promotion.

"A lot of the plight has to be down to Rooney and his staff," Pennant said. "The club were sixth before and they were getting results under Eustace with the same players.

"Rooney took over a good team, and now they're 18th. Either the tactics, formation, and selections aren't working, and you have to look at that.

"Whatever the staff are doing is not working."