Birmingham City has sacked the 38-year-old Wayne Rooney as the coach after just 83 days in charge of the Championship club.

This comes after the club slipped to 20th, Monday's 3-0 loss at Leeds having been the ninth defeat of his 15-game tenure.

He was appointed on 11 October following the controversial decision to dismiss John Eustace, with Blues sixth in the table.

"Football is a results business and I recognise they've not been at the level I wanted them to be," Rooney said.

As a result, Birmingham City has appointed Steve Spooner as the coach for the Blues on an interim basis.

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In a statement, Rooney says he now plans to take a break from the game.

"I would like to thank (co-owners) Tom Wagner and Tom Brady and (chief executive) Garry Cook for the opportunity to manage Birmingham City and the support they all gave me during my short period with the club," read part of the statement.

"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,” he added.

Since Blues' new American owners, Shelby Companies Limited, appointed Rooney again in the search for global impact, he has also won just two matches - and the board's hope for successful, more exciting football has yet to be met.