Birmingham City Wayne Rooney transfer plans unveiled as key figure to stay amid exit talk

Birmingham City CEO Garry Cook has given his backing to technical director Craig Gardner, amid talk of a departure from St Andrew's

It was reported earlier this week that Blues had been looking at recruiting a new technical director, who has been in the post since 2021, however those reports are understood to be wide of the mark.

Gardner, who has played an influential role in attracting players to the club, and assembled a full-tie recruitment team in February is set to work alongside new manager Wayne Rooney, who succeeded John Eustace this week.

The 36-year-old, whose brother Gary plays for the first-team, helped bring in 13 new players to the club this summer, and has now received public backing from one of the clubs' senior figures.

Speaking to Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett at the press conerence unveiling Rooney to the media, following his appointment on Tuesday, Cook said: "The support though from all of us here at the football club to make Wayne and his team a success will be made available at every single level.

“That alongside Craig Gardner will only bring further alignment to meet our ambitions. We are rebuilding this football club from the ground up.

"Craig's work this summer during the transfer window and assembling a valuable, and very exciting team of players is just proof of that.

“Today is another milestone on the journey of Birmingham City. With that comes great expectation. The demands on Wayne and his team are no different than the demands I place on every single staff member at this football club.”

For the time being, Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney will have to work at the players he has got at his disposal. He has worked with left-back Lee Buchanan before during their time at Derby County, and met the Blues players at the training ground for the first time on Thurday morning.

News of Gardner remaining at the club is positive, given he helped assemble the current squad. In the summer, the club did invest into the playing squad with a total of six players being bought for transfer fees.

Birmingham must now navigate through the parameters of Financial Fair Play to make money available to Rooney when the winter transfer window opens in January. It has been reported by TEAMtalk that the 37-year-old wants to sign up to four players from Derby; Eiran Cashin, Max Bird, Liam Thompson and Louie Sibley.

CEO Cook added: “Ambition is always determined by what you are willing to put on the table, there are rules and regulations around that.

“We have built an organisation that is to support the manger, be very, very astute in our recruitment process but at the same time build the infrastructure to support the team.

You have to grow revenues if you don’t you are going to limit your abilities to succeed.”