Tom Brady questions Wayne Rooney's ‘work ethic' at Birmingham
Brady, who is a minority owner of the club, stars in a new Amazon Prime documentary series, due to air on Friday which outlines the trials and tribulations the new ownership group, Knighthead Capital Management LLC, faced when taking over.
Back in 2023 Rooney was brought in as manager two months after the new owners bought the club, replacing John Eustace with the Blues sat sixth in the Championship. Rooney was sacked 83 days later as the club dropped to 20th and were eventually relegated.
In the new television series, Brady is seen questioning Rooney before the decision to sack him with the seven-time Super Bowl winner telling colleagues: "I'm a little worried about our head coach's work ethic."
He added: "I mean, I don't know, I don't have great instincts on that."
For his part, Rooney attempted to explain his thoughts on Birmingham's problems telling Brady that the culture surrounding the club needs to change.
He said: "Why they're playing in the Championship and not the Premier League, is because we've all passed a ball, kicked the ball and run, but it's a focus, concentrated for 90 minutes."
After his dismissal Rooney did not feel 13 weeks was "sufficient to oversee the changes that were needed".
Once Birmingham's relegation from the second division was confirmed, Brady later put the blame on the players despite the owners hiring seven different managers in just 10 months.
"Well we've already changed the coach, so it's really the players because the coach doesn't go out there and put the ball in the goal," Brady said.
"They were lazy, they were entitled and when you're lazy and entitled, you don't have much of a chance to succeed. We've got to change all the people that are associated with losing, so I think this summer there's going to be a lot of people gone."
Birmingham spent £30m on transfers ahead of the 2024/25 season which is a monumental sum for a League One side. The club went on to break the Football League record for most points in a season and topped the table with 111 to secure their promotion back to the Championship for the upcoming season.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
2 minutes ago
- The Sun
Horse racing tips: ‘He's a stayer who won't be stopping' – Templegate's big 11-2 NAP on the final day of Goodwood
TEMPLEGATE is in red-hot form and he tackles Saturday's action from Glorious Goodwood confident of smashing the bookies once more. Back a horse by clicking their odds below. SAM HAWKENS (1.55 Goodwood, nap) He is a stayer on the up as he showed when scooting in over 1m5f at Hamilton last time. There was a bit of juice in the ground at the Scottish track and he wasn't stopping at the line. This is a hotter race but there's more to come. SAYIDAH HARD SPUN (2.10 Newmarket, nb) She has won two of her past three runs and saw out this trip well when scoring at Ascot last time. The handicapper has been fair with a 3lb rise in the weights and she can take another step forward. She won this race 12 months ago and returning to this trip and track can bring out her best form. She was beaten when odds-on at Sandown last time but that was a muddling race and he was only two lengths away at the line. We know she stays and a little give in the ground is fine while William Haggas is in fine form. GOODWOOD 1.20 ARABIAN CROWN was a solid third in a Newmarket Group 2 last time and the form has been franked here this week. He goes on any ground and sees out this trip. There's more to come from this four-year-old. Al Aasy won this last year and, while he's not the greatest battler, his class will see him close again. Candleford is seven now but looked as good as ever when taking a Beverley Listed prize last month. He likes this trip and William Haggas is in decent form. Meydaan was second on his last visit here in May and has been running well at Listed level without winning. Ryan Moore taking over is a plus but he needs a bit more to score. Ambiente Friendly hasn't fired this season and has been gelded since a poor effort at Royal Ascot. 1.55 SAM HAWKENS is a stayer on the up as he showed when scooting in over 1m5f at Hamilton last time. There was a bit of juice in the ground at the Scottish track and he wasn't stopping at the line. This is a hotter race but there's more to come. Aeronautic was a good fifth in the Copper Horse handicap at Royal Ascot over this distance and is open to improvement for Joseph O'Brien. He's off the same mark and may prefer this slightly slower ground. Stressfree would have a massive chance if seeing out this longer trip. He has been going well around 1m4f and looks a big price to place. French Duke is another stepping up in distance and he won at this meeting last season. Roger Varian's hope is 10lb higher than that now but should have more to offer. Master Builder often travels well without winning but he has scored over this trip and didn't run badly on his last run here. 2.30 TERM OF ENDEARMENT won this race 12 months ago and returning to this trip and track can bring out her best form. She was beaten when odds-on at Sandown last time but that was a muddling race and he was only two lengths away at the line. We know she stays and a little give in the ground is fine while William Haggas is in fine form. Danielle is interesting on this hike in distance having shown Group quality over shorter. This may not be the day after a long break she's one to watch. Fellow Gosden runner Sueno was a solid second at Newmarket latest and ran well over this distance at York before that. She is another with solid claims. Goodie Two Shoes won a Group 3 over this distance at Fairyhouse latest and is respected with William Buick up. Waardah is a three-year-old with a bright future after a Listed win here in June. That was over 1m2f so she has to prove her staying power. I'M in the PUROSANGUE gang in the £250,000 Stewards' Cup. Top jockey William Buick teams up with Andrew Balding with this four-year-old who saves his best for this distance and likes soft ground. He should get his conditions here and run a big race at fair odds. Last year's winner Get It took the Wokingham last time and will go close again, while Completely Random also went well at Royal Ascot. Elmonjed is another one high on the shortlist. Here's my guide to the big field, where I rate them 1 (worst) to 5 (best): ALZAHIR 3 HIR we go. Went off far too quick at York last time after three good wins. Goes on any ground and may bounce back at too big a price. ANNAF 3 AF a go. Big player at best but unreliable and slow away too often. Talented if getting a clean break but has a big weight. APOLLO ONE 3 ONE show. Twice second in this and always runs his race but probably needs a personal best to finally win it. CIRCE 4 YES Cir. Strong traveller with three wins this summer. Up in class but big field suits and Moore up. Handles soft. COMMANCHE FALLS 2 COM on. Dual winner of this race in his proime. Stable back in nick but latest form underwhelming. Hard to rule out, but needs best to hit the frame. COMPLETELY RANDOM 4 RAN raid. Good run in the Wokingham latest and will love the pace of this. Just the type to pop up in a race like this. DESERT COP 1 COP out. Decent form in Bahrain but has been poor back here. Looks the yard's second string. DRAMA 2 NO Drama. Plenty of form on AW but turf record is weaker. Unlucky last time but needs more for this. ELMONJED 4 EL of a bet. Improved a bundle to win at York and likes this trip and going. More weight but a major player. GERMANIC 2 TOO Manic. Two quiet on turf efforts since a big run over this at Newcastle. Trip fine but needs a lot more. GET IT 4 IT makes sense. Won this at 40s last year and took the Wokingham last time in style. Only 4lb higher and set for bold bid from from front. No shock to see him go very close. HAMMER THE HAMMER 3 HAMMER time. Good second at Royal Ascot over 5f and likes this trip. Not tackled slow ground before but it's early days and there's more to come. JAKAJARO 3 ALRIGHT Jak. Unlucky at Ascot and ran well here Tuesday. First try at 6f but looks well treated. Off the same mark and not discounted. JORDAN ELECTRICS 1 JOR drop. Getting on a bit now and poor comeback latest. Hard to fancy despite trainer Jim Goldie being in good form. JUNGLE DRUMS 1 JUNGLE juiced. Fair 2yo but been poor for a while and this looks much too tough. Drums out of tune. KORKER 3 KOR blimey. Hold-up horse who needs luck but trip fine and likes soft. Each-way shout if getting the breaks. ORAZIO 1 ON Raz. Hit and miss last year and poor comeback at Ascot. Hard to fancy despite handling any ground. PUROSANGUE 5 URO Star. Backed for this last year on firm but best efforts on soft and dropped to a very nice mark. Can go close. RUN BOY RUN 3 ON Run. Has been reliable in top 6f races and didn't stay 7f last twice. Back to best trip and could sneak a place. SAINT LAWRENCE 1 LAW broken. Not won since the 2023 Wokingham and poor in that race this year. Tall order in current form. SEVEN QUESTIONS 1 SEVEN down. Group 3 winner last term over 5f and best at that trip. Shown little form this season. STRIKE RED 3 RED alert. Best of group behind Elmonjed at York. Nicely treated and peaking at right time. Can run a good race. THE X O 1 CROSS out X. Out of sorts for a while and tailed off on stable debut. Trip suits but not good enough for this. TOCA MADERA 2 MAD bet. Good third at York in May and holding his form but doesn't look well treated in first-time cheekpieces. TWILIGHT CALLS 1 TWILIGHT in dark. Three years without a win tells the tale. Best over this trip but likely to struggle again. TWILIGHT JET 2 JET must fly. Ran well at Epsom but was poor here on Tuesday. Prefers this trip on soft but needs a lot more. TWO TRIBES 3 TWO true. Won strong 7f race last week at Ascot and stamina may help in conditions. Could get involved late. VADREAM 2 BAD Vad. Was tailed off at Royal Ascot and on a long losing run. Slow ground suits but up against it again. 3.45 SPIRIT OF FARHH looks a big price given how well he took a Newmarket handicap over this trip 14 days ago. The ground was tacky on the July course but he went through it nicely and is open to improvement. In-form trainer Eve Johnson Houghton has a good record here and can go close again. Montpellier won a couple of maidens and ran well at Salisbury on handicap debut last time. There's more to come with this step up in distance a wise move. Consolidation was snookered by the draw at Royal Ascot but won over this course and distance two starts ago. It's early days and there should be a lot more to come. Mudbir is bred to be classy and scored on handicap debut at Sandown 28 days ago. He should progress from there from the Gosdens and looks a big player. Rare Change was hampered at Newcastle last time after winning at Pontefract. He likes this trip and has place claims. Yah Mo Be There ran well in the Jersey Stakes from a moderate draw and is another danger. NEWMARKET 2.10 SAYIDAH HARD SPUN has won two of her past three runs and saw out this trip well when scoring at Ascot last time. The handicapper has been fair with a 3lb rise in the weights and she can take another step forward. Awaafi was a promising second at Haydock last time. She shapes as though seven furlongs would be ideal but her stamina could be an asset here. Azleet enjoyed the all-weather when scoring over this distance at Southwell 20 three weeks ago. Her opening handicap mark of 76 looks on the lenient side and there should be more to come. Ruby's Angel is another making her handicap debut and was a place behind Awaafi last time. Despite that she carries 1lb more which seems a little strange but she's not out of this. Meelaf completes the field for in-form Karl Burke and has run well at Group 3 level so is no mug in this wide-open contest. Her mark is not the kindest and she might have less scope than a few of these now but she's quick. 3.20 MERIBELLA had some traffic problems in a Pontefract Listed race last time so did well to finish third. This trip is ideal and she will be on the premises again. Jane Temple clocked a personal best when third in a similar contest to this last time. She goes on any ground and will be right there. Silent Love steps out of maiden company where she landed a battling success at Kempton latest. This longer trip will suit and there's a fair bit more to come. Sioux Life is an Italian Group 2 winner over 1m2f so has quality but her first crack at this trip at Haydock last time was only a modest run. Karmology was second in good company at Beverley and will try to nick this off the front. She's likely to be collared by a couple in the closing stages. Templegate's tips Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
Daily Mail
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Benjamin Sesko 'decides' between Man United and Newcastle as transfer saga finally nears end
Benjamin Sesko has reportedly made his decision on where he will be playing next season following months of speculation. The RB Leipzig striker has been at the centre of a fierce transfer battle between Manchester United and Newcastle, with both clubs identifying the 22-year-old as a key summer target. Now, a report in Slovenia claims the highly rated forward has settled on his next move — and it could trigger a major shake-up in the Premier League 's striker market. According to Delo, Sesko has decided to join Newcastle , with the Magpies beating off strong competition from Old Trafford to land one of Europe's most promising young attackers. The Slovenian outlet reports that Newcastle's proposal won out after a drawn-out saga that saw Arsenal, United, and Newcastle all linked. Arsenal dropped out earlier this summer, opting instead for Viktor Gyokeres, while United had turned their full attention to Sesko after ending their pursuit of Aston Villa 's Ollie Watkins. United's interest was led by director of recruitment Christopher Vivell, who previously worked with Sesko at RB Salzburg and has described the 6ft 4in forward as having the potential to become one of the world's top strikers. Manager Ruben Amorim had also made him a priority, having already brought in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to strengthen the attack. But Sesko is now said to have chosen Newcastle — a decision that may be closely tied to the uncertain future of Alexander Isak. Mail Sport revealed on Friday that Liverpool had a £110million bid for Isak rejected, with Newcastle holding out for £150m. Isak is believed to be pushing for a move and has been training alone at former club Real Sociedad, having pulled out of the Magpies' pre-season tour with an apparent thigh issue. Newcastle have made clear that no sale will go ahead unless a suitable replacement is secured — and Sesko has long been top of their wishlist. The Bundesliga side signed Sesko from Red Bull Salzburg in 2023 and have an informal agreement to allow him to leave if a suitable offer is made. It is understood that Newcastle will be expected to pay Leipzig somewhere between £60m and £70m plus add-ons. Sesko scored 21 goals in all competitions last season and has 16 goals in 41 senior appearances for Slovenia. He has drawn comparisons to Erling Haaland for his blend of height, pace and technical ability — and is seen by Newcastle as a ready-made replacement should Isak get his wish. As for Man United, they may now be forced to explore alternatives. Amorim's side struggled badly in front of goal last season and were hoping Sesko would be the final piece in a new-look forward line. Rasmus Hojlund's future remains unclear, with the Dane insisting he wants to stay and fight for his place — but competition was always expected. United have also made enquiries about Brentford's Yoane Wissa, while Wolves' Jorgen Strand Larsen has been discussed too.
South Wales Guardian
32 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Louis Rees-Zammit has had ‘unbelievable' interest from rugby union teams
Rees-Zammit, 24, spent 18 months in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars, but did not feature for either franchise in a regular-season game. The former Gloucester wing, who made 32 appearances for Wales and toured with the British & Irish Lions in 2021, said he hopes to rekindle his international career. Rees-Zammit told Sky Sports News: 'I can't name teams, but I've had a load of interest, which is unbelievable. I'm very grateful for that. 'The season starts pretty soon. So it's about finding the right team for me in terms of location, in terms of how quick I've got to get into camp, and because the season's right around the corner, so all of these things that are going to happen, are going to happen pretty sharpish. 'Me and my brother are going through negotiations and seeing teams interested, which is amazing. We should find out in the next week or so.' Rees-Zammit quit rugby union in January 2024 in order to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL via its International Player Pathway Program. He signed an active roster deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the 2025 season after being part of their practice squad for the previous campaign and travelled to London for the games against the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots in October. Following his decision to return to the 15-man game, Rees-Zammit has targeted a return for Wales, who he helped to their last Six Nations triumph in 2021. He added: 'Playing for my country is the pinnacle and it's one that I absolutely love doing. 'I managed to play 32 times for my country in three, four years. I need to find a team. Once we find a team, get into good form and hopefully come Autumn Internationals, see where selection is. 'It's something that I'm really looking forward to and I really want to play for my country again.' Rees-Zammit's ambition will come as a welcome boost to recently-appointed Wales head coach Steve Tandy, who takes over a side that only ended an 18-match losing streak that lasted almost two years with a hard-fought win over Japan last month.
