Amidst significant excitement, Tom Brady and Wayne Rooney made their arrival in Birmingham, but the once-eager cheers have now transformed into jeers from the home supporters.
After securing NFL legend Tom Brady as an investor, the West Midlands-based team devised ambitious plans. Additionally, they enlisted the managerial expertise of Manchester United and England icon Wayne Rooney.
When Rooney took charge, the club was comfortably positioned within the Championship play-off places.
However, the initial optimism has given way to disappointment as the team has encountered a challenging stretch, suffering six defeats in nine games and managing only one victory.
This downturn has resulted in a significant drop to 17th place in the standings.
A 2-0 defeat at Coventry was met by jeers from the travelling support, with Rooney saying of that reaction and what needs to be done in order to deliver a reversal in fortune: “We’re in a difficult place; we know that, with the run of results and the points we’re losing. The big thing is that the goals we’re conceding are very poor goals. We have to figure it out and make sure we don’t give easy goals away.
“The run of form can’t continue. Of course, I understand the fans’ frustration. That’s normal when you go through a run of results like this and we have to change this as quickly as possible. If I were a fan in the stands there tonight, I would be exactly the same. But what I can tell you is we’re working really hard to fix it, to improve results and performances.”
Birmingham have been leaking goals at an alarming rate, with Rooney adding to a team that has collected just one clean sheet during his tenure: “We are getting punished when we’re making mistakes and we need to cut that out. Throughout the 90 minutes, Coventry were the better team, so they deserved to win the game.
“We let ourselves down with the goals we conceded. That’s my responsibility; it’s on me to get the players to perform better and pick up more points than we have done. It’s disappointing when you concede goals that are avoidable.”
Birmingham is set to resume play on Wednesday with an away game against Cardiff.
The Bluebirds are currently vying for a play-off spot, and the extent of support that Tom Brady and the Blues board can provide for reinforcements at St. Andrew’s during the January transfer window remains uncertain.