Plymouth Argyle find themselves in a precarious position near the foot of the EFL Championship table, having suffered two humiliating defeats in quick succession. A 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Norwich City was followed by a 4-0 home loss to Bristol City, piling the pressure on manager Wayne Rooney. However, the Manchester United and England legend has received the backing of the club’s hierarchy, with director of football Neil Dewsnip insisting everyone at Home Park still believes in their beleaguered boss.
Rooney, who took charge of the Pilgrims in the summer of 2024, described the past week as the “hardest of his managerial career” following the heavy losses. Plymouth have now conceded 10 goals in their last two outings and sit just one place and one point above the relegation zone. But despite the grim statistics and growing unrest among some sections of the fanbase, Dewsnip was unequivocal in his support for the 37-year-old.
“Wayne is driven to turn the ship around,” Dewsnip told reporters. “We’re all behind him, we’re all fighting alongside him and hopefully we can turn that into a good performance and a winning performance on Saturday.”
A Daunting Task Ahead
Plymouth face a tricky test this weekend as they welcome 17th-placed Oxford United to Home Park. The U’s sit just one point above Argyle and are also struggling for form and consistency in the notoriously competitive Championship. With both sides desperate for points to pull away from danger, it promises to be a tense and potentially pivotal encounter.
Dewsnip acknowledged the challenge of competing in the Championship, especially for a club of Plymouth’s stature and resources. Argyle have the third-smallest ground in the division and do not benefit from the parachute payments that some of their rivals receive following relegation from the Premier League. Staying in the second tier is the overriding priority.
“We compete in the Championship, which I think is the fifth-biggest league in the world,” Dewsnip explained. “Over the last few years, we’ve come from League Two to where we are, we’ve earned the right to be in the Championship, we want to stay in the Championship.”
The Pilgrims narrowly avoided the drop last season, finishing just one point above the relegation zone. Dewsnip emphasized the need for realism and perspective given the caliber of opposition Argyle face week in, week out.
“Wayne talks about how he’d love to be safe [from relegation] with at least four games to go, so that’s kind of where the target will remain until we’ve achieved it,” Dewsnip revealed. “But we mustn’t forget we’re in a league that has some really big football clubs, Premier League clubs if we’re really honest.”
A Concerning Trend
One worrying statistic that Rooney must address is Plymouth’s away form. Since his appointment last summer, the Greens have failed to win a single game on the road in the Championship. Their wretched run continued with the heavy defeat at Norwich, a result that led to some supporters questioning whether the former Everton and DC United forward is the right man for the job.
However, Dewsnip and the Plymouth board remain convinced that Rooney can mastermind a revival and guide the club to safety. The former England captain has spoken of his determination to repay the faith shown in him and turn the tide at Home Park.
A Glimmer of Hope?
Despite the doom and gloom that has enveloped the club in recent weeks, there are some reasons for optimism. Plymouth’s home form has been relatively solid, with four wins and four draws from their 11 games at Home Park so far this term. If Rooney can maintain that points return on their own patch and somehow find a way to pick up some positive results on the road, Argyle may yet haul themselves away from choppy waters.
The January transfer window also offers an opportunity to strengthen the squad and address some of the deficiencies that have been brutally exposed in recent matches. Dewsnip hinted that the club would back Rooney in the market, although stressed the need for sensible and sustainable recruitment given Plymouth’s modest budget compared to many Championship rivals.
“We’ll support Wayne in January within the parameters we have as a football club. But we have to box clever, we have to find value in the market. We can’t compete financially with a lot of other clubs at this level but we back ourselves to find good players who can come in and improve us,” Dewsnip said.
The Verdict
The next few weeks could define Plymouth’s season and perhaps determine Rooney’s future in management. The 37-year-old has taken on a massive challenge in trying to establish the Pilgrims as a competitive Championship outfit, and he is learning on the job in an unforgiving environment. But despite the bruising recent results and increasingly restless fanbase, it seems he retains the full support of his employers for now.
Dewsnip’s public backing of Rooney is significant and suggests the Manchester United icon will be given time to turn things around. But the pressure is undoubtedly mounting. More performances and results like the last two and the mood music emanating from the boardroom may begin to change.
Rooney has overcome countless challenges throughout his glittering playing career. Saving Plymouth from relegation and building a brighter future at Home Park may yet prove to be his toughest test yet. The coming weeks will be absolutely critical.
