How Wayne Rooney will work with Neil Dewsnip to move Plymouth Argyle forward

The new Pilgrims' boss has also explained the importance to him of bringing in Pete Shuttleworth as his No 2

Wayne Rooney has declared that his relationship as Plymouth Argyle head coach with director of football Neil Dewsnip is going to be 'really important', particularly when it comes to player recruitment.

Rooney played down any suggestions that he was appointed by the Championship club because Dewsnip coached him when he emerged as one of his generation's greatest players through the Everton youth academy. He has also spoken about the many outstanding managers he played under during his record-breaking career, and how from his mid-20s onwards he was looking and learning from them with a view to a future in coaching.

Rooney had not seen Dewsnip for a number of years before he brought his former club, Birmingham City, to play Argyle at Home Park last December, two days before Christmas.

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That was when Dewsnip and Kevin Nancekivell took temporary charge of the Pilgrims for the first time after the departure of Steven Schumacher to Stoke City, and it was a game which ended in a 3-3 draw.

Rooney said: "I think the first time I had seen Neil for a long, long time was when we (Birmingham) played here at Home Park. And then beyond that my first interview with the club was with Andrew (Parkinson, chief executive officer) and Simon (Hallett, majority owner and chairman), so I think it's important to know this isn't a favour just because I know Neil Dewsnip.

"This is the club going through a very thorough process in order to appoint the next head coach. Of course, them questions will come up, but I think now I need to really work closely with Neil on different aspects of the game, of the club.

"Our relationship is really important now, to make sure we get it right. I'm delighted to be working alongside Neil after his experience with the club over the last few years - the promotions, getting in the Championship and sustaining that position.

"Now we all want it to move forward and we both have to work extremely hard to make sure we get the players we want and put ourselves in the best position."

Rooney has brought in one very familiar face to him as part of his backroom staff at Argyle, with Pete Shuttleworth joining as assistant head coach. Working alongside them on the training ground will be Nancekivell, Simon Ireland and goalkeeping coach Darryl Flahavan.

"Pete is the one who has been with me, he knows me inside out," said Rooney. "He has been with me at Derby County, DC United and Birmingham, and once I knew I was coming here it was always going to be that I wanted him to come with me.

"I'm delighted to have him here. He knows probably more about me than I do myself and how I work, all my messages I give to players, staff he knows that so it's good to have someone like that."

Rooney added: "When I got to my mid-20s you start looking at your managers you are playing under and take information in. I have played under Sir Alex Ferguson, (Jose) Mourinho, Louis van Gaal, (Ronald) Koeman, (Fabio) Capello with England.

"You are always looking and seeing different things they are doing during training sessions, how they are speaking to the players, the information they are giving, how they manage players on an individual basis.

"You are always looking at the different traits they have and you try to take as many good ones as you can, but also I think more importantly the stuff you feel they are not doing so well, which you don't want to go down that route with - with players for instance.

"Society has changed and players have changed with the way the world is changing, so you have to adapt to certain situations, and make sure you have a real understanding of your players.

"Over the new few weeks it's a great opportunity for me to get to know all the players better as individuals, and what makes them tick - what players need an arm around them, what players need a little bit more. The quicker I get to know that the easier it will be for me to understand what messages they need."

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