Coleen softens blow of Wayne's sacking as she cashes in Wagatha cheque

WAG Coleen Rooney could soon be the main family breadwinner — after her husband Wayne was yesterday sacked as manager of Birmingham City.

The mother of four is expected to start exploring new opportunities following the success of her Wagatha Christie TV documentary.

Coleen, 37, also banked £800,000 from her High Court rival Rebekah Vardy after extending the deadline for her fellow Wag to pay legal costs in November 2022.

Meanwhile, Wayne, 38, was fired after less than three months in charge of Championship outfit Birmingham, and is now expected to take a break from football.

A source said: “Coleen and Wayne were in no rush for the Wagatha Christie money but now Wayne has lost his job it will come in handy.

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“Coleen received the payment from Becky after she gave her an extension to give her more time to get the cash together. Coleen is the breadwinner at the moment and the Wagatha cash will certainly tide them over for a while.”

Author and TV personality Coleen revealed she was looking to “map out what’s next” following the success of The Real Wagatha Story on Disney+, which detailed her feud with former pal Rebekah, 41.

She said in an interview: “The kids have always been my priority, they always will be, but I’d like to see what’s out there for me.

“First, we’ll get through Christmas, that’s a big family affair — everything I do is a family affair. Then I’ll sit down with my management and map out what’s next.

“But I’m going to wait. I like to take my time; I like to organise and be prepared.”

Her husband left Washington-based DC United last summer before coming back to the UK.

Wayne took over at St Andrew’s in October after John Eustace was fired, when Birmingham were sixth.

But they have now plummeted to 20th after winning just two from 15 games, with nine defeats.

He was axed after a 3-0 New Year’s Day beating at Leeds, where Birmingham fans sang: “Wayne Rooney, get out of our club.”

Sources revealed how he never settled at the Midlands club in what was said to be a “toxic” atmosphere.

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One said: “Wayne was never happy there, and never really given a chance. The players and fans did not take to him and seemed to resent the fact he was there, especially as he replaced a local bloke in John Eustace.

“At his first home game, when they were beaten by Hull in October, the crowd turned on him and were singing that they did not want him there. It was toxic then and it did not really improve until the bitter end.”

The England and Manchester United legend said “it will take me some time to get over this setback”, but vowed to return to management eventually.

A separate source added: “Coleen will be as devastated as Wayne as she was the driving force in them coming back to the UK.

“They and their kids are really settled in their Cheshire home and that’s where she wants to stay.

“She won’t countenance another move abroad.

“But the chatter in football circles is that Wayne won’t want to stay out of the game for long, despite what he has said. People are linking him with potentially going to Saudi Arabia — which would make sense financially — or even Salford City in League Two.

“The manager’s job is vacant there and it is run by his old Manchester United team-mate Gary Neville.”