Kevin Nancekivell called Wayne Rooney ‘class personified’ for the way the former Plymouth Argyle head coach said his goodbyes as he departed Home Park.
Following a lengthy Argyle board meeting on Monday night, it was announced early on New Year’s Eve that the England football legend had left with immediate effect. It followed the Pilgrims plunging to the bottom of the Championship table after only one win in 14 games.
First team coach Nancekivell, who has taken temporary charge along with injured club captain Joe Edwards, said: “Wayne rang me, I have seen Wayne and he’s obviously disappointed and really sad. It’s a horrible time.
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“What I would like to say is people see the Wayne Rooney that is the England international and legend of world football but they don’t know him as a person and I have been privileged to get to know him.
“He’s a super human being and a fantastic guy. He showed a lot of class when he came in and said his goodbyes to us so we all wish him really well.”
He continued: “It has been a difficult period. It’s part of football unfortunately. However, we have a job to do and we have to get on and represent the football club in the best way we possibly can.”
Rooney was at Home Park on New Year’s Eve as Nancekivell and Edwards prepared the Argyle squad for the game against Bristol City the next day, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
Nancekivell said: “Wayne rang me Monday night and Tuesday he came in. He was class personified really. He wanted to see the lads but he didn’t want to interrupt what we were doing in our planning.
“He asked if he could come up and see us in the office, which of course he did. He said his goodbyes, wished us well, and we move on.
“It’s a real shame. For whatever reason it just hasn’t happened, has it? It’s the dark side of football I’m afraid where managers pay the price for a team that hasn’t picked up enough points, but I’m sure Wayne Rooney will become a top manager at some point in his career. I have got no doubt about that.”
When Nancekivell was asked whether he and Edwards would take charge of Argyle again for the away game against Stoke City on Saturday, he replied: “I believe so, until we are told any different.
“We will be in (on Thursday morning), we will do a recovery, we will start preparing and planning for Stoke and we will see what we can do up there.”
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