Wayne Rooney is ‘not a world beater,’ Chris Sutton insists on It’s All Kicking Off amid ‘madness’ links to Tom Brady’s managerless Birmingham

Chris Sutton believes hiring managerial ‘rookie’ Wayne Rooney to replace John Eustace would be ‘madness’ and pile the pressure on Tom Brady and his fellow Birmingham City owners.

Eustace was sacked on Monday, despite the club sitting sixth in the Championship after an impressive start to the season. 

Rooney is tipped to take over following his own departure from DC United over the weekend, after the team’s failure to make the MLS playoffs.

The former England captain was in charge for 15 months but said now he wants to return to the UK to see his family and pursue other avenues. 

‘Why would you get rid of someone who’s successful?’ said Mail Sport columnist Sutton.

‘On the face of it, it does seem like madness to sack John Eustace,’ Chris Sutton said

Tom Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl winner, recently became a minority owner in Birmingham

‘It’s not like – with respect to Wayne Rooney, great playing career – they’re bringing in a world beater of a manager. He’s still a rookie in managerial terms, isn’t he?’ 

Rooney has only had one coaching job in England – at Derby between 2000 and 2002 – Sutton added on It’s All Kicking Off: ‘On the face of it, it does seem like madness to sack John Eustace when the club are doing well. 

‘And essentially, what does it do? It puts a hell of a lot more pressure on the owners making that decision.’

Eustace (pictured) was sacked on Monday, despite the club sitting sixth in the Championship

‘The only thing that keeps you in the public eye long-term is good results,’ said Ian Ladyman

Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl Champion, became a minority owner in Birmingham back in August.

The 46-year-old entered a partnership with Knighthead Capital Management LLC,  taking on the role of chairman of the advisory board at the club.

On the possible arrival of Rooney, Mail Sport football editor Ian Ladyman said: ‘Clubs do stupid things and clubs seem to labor under this illusion that a big name will bring them the publicity and glamor they want. 

‘It does, but only for about a fortnight. The only thing that really keeps you in the public eye long-term is good results and Birmingham seem to have plenty of decent results.’