Derby County interim boss Wayne Rooney has admitted that the role of player-manager is hindering his concentration on simply playing the game. 

Rooney and Liam Rosenior has been overseeing the Derby first-team since the departure of Phillip Cocu, but the Rams remain rooted to the foot of the Championship table and have won only once all season.

Defeats to Bristol City and Middlesbrough - the latter a crushing 3-0 - have come under Rooney's watch, with the player-manager also picking himself to play.

McClaren? Clement? Who was the Derby County manager when each of these 15 Rams moments happened?

 

This weekend, there's a must-win clash against Wycombe Wanderers on the agenda, but Rooney has opted to take himself out of the playing squad and solely focus on the management side of things.

When quizzed on whether there was too much to juggle playing and managing, the 35-year-old conceded there was.

As per Ryan Conway at The Athletic, Rooney said: "I think so. If I'm making decisions on who plays and who doesn't play and prep then I wouldn't be able to give it my full attention and be part of the game."

Wycombe currently join Derby in the Championship relegation zone, with Gareth Ainsworth's side sitting three points better off than the Rams heading into this weekend.

Victory for Rooney could see Derby peel themselves off the foot of the table.

The Verdict 

This is pretty open from Rooney.

It's quite clear that his concentration at the moment needs to be on the management side of things, but whether Derby are ready to move on without him in a playing capacity is the question that I'd ask.

Their only victory this season came with Rooney scoring the winner and it seems to be the case that the Rams need his leadership on the field as much as they do off it.

A permanent manager needs to be appointed (even is that is to be Rooney) so everyone can start putting a long-term plan in place.

Thoughts? Let us know!