Wayne Rooney insisted he was up for the fight at Birmingham City - only hours before the club's ownership threw the towel in on his tenure as manager.
Mirror Football exclusively revealed that the Manchester United and England legend had been relieved of his duties after a disastrous 15-match spell in charge. Rooney was appointed with Blues in the Championship play-off picture, with the club's new owners opting to replace popular former boss John Eustace.
Rooney arrived with a brief of not only winning football matches, but doing it in a 'no-fear' style that St. Andrew's bosses wanted to see. However, even winning games was mostly beyond Rooney, recording just two during his miserable spell in charge.
His final defeat came away at Leeds United on New Year's Day, as Elland Road ecstatically greeted the 3-0 win over the Red Devils icon. But it wasn't just the home fans making their feelings known, with the travelling contingent chanting for Rooney to leave the club throughout the second half.
Speaking after the defeat, Rooney claimed he was up for the challenge of turning it around - defending the right of Blues fans to vent their frustrations, and asking those above him to dip hands into pockets during the January window. Asked if he was planning to continue, he said: "Of course. I’m a fighter. I get football is about opinions, I completely get that.
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"I’ve obviously spoken to the owners. That is private between me and the owners. We are going through a difficult period, there’s no denying that, and we need to do everything we can to come out of that.
"What’s clear is we need some players in. We need players to come in to help with the quality of the team but also some fresh faces in the building as well.
"I believe in myself. We have a very young squad and it’s difficult for the players at the minute. We have to keep believing we will get through this.
Wayne Rooney speaks after Birmingham City's defeat at Leeds (Birmingham City Football Club)"This was always going to be a very difficult game for us. For 30 minutes, I thought we more than competed and created some good opportunities. The second half wasn’t good enough, but we have to keep going through the process to improve the team."
The club confirmed his departure with a short statement on Wednesday from CEO Garry Cook which read: “We are committed to doing what is necessary to bring success to St. Andrew’s.
“Unfortunately, Wayne’s time with us did not go as planned and we have decided to move in a different direction. The search for a successor begins with immediate effect and we will update supporters when we have further news."
Rooney himself then released a statement, suggesting he should have been given more time: "I would like to thank Tom Wagner, Tom Brady and Garry Cook for the opportunity to manage Birmingham City FC and the support they all gave me during my short period with the club.
"Football is a results business – and I recognise they have not been at the level I wanted them to be. However, time is the most precious commodity a manager requires and I do not believe 13 weeks was sufficient to oversee the changes that were needed.
"Personally, it will take me some time to get over this setback. I have been involved in professional football, as either a player or manager, since I was 16. Now, I plan to take some time with my family as I prepare for the next opportunity in my journey as a manager.
"Finally, I wish Birmingham City FC and its owners my best wishes in the pursuit of their ambitions."
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Attention now turns to a replacement for Blues, who desperately need to arrest the slide which has seen them plummet towards the Championship relegation zone. Mirror Sport understands former Birmingham midfielder and England U-21 coach Lee Carsley is in the frame, while Neil Warnock could also be hired in a short-term capacity.
A left-field option could also see Eustace return to the club, who is technically still under contract in the second city and wouldn't cost a penny to put him back in the dugout.
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