She’s been with him since he was a 16-year-old player, so Coleen Rooney is used to playing second fiddle to husband Wayne’s footballing career. Twenty years on and with Wayne now a manager, she was hoping things might have changed – but as his team Derby County was relegated last week, it seems she’s still not his priority.
While Coleen – who has four sons, Kai, 12, Klay, eight, Kit, six, and four-year-old Cass with Wayne – is very supportive of her husband’s career, she now feels it’s time that Wayne walked away from Derby and got a job with a bigger club.
“Derby’s relegation was very emotional for Wayne and the team, even though it wasn’t a surprise they went down,” our source explains.
“Wayne has been lauded for how he has managed the team this year and brought pride back to the side – and it’s been an emotional journey for him. But Coleen has had enough. She’s very vocal that Wayne needs to get a better job, with a team in a higher league that isn’t broke. She really doesn’t want to hear any more about it – and she is a bit baffled by how soppy Wayne has become over the club. He’s become so involved and committed to Derby and its fans and says he wants to help the team bounce back – even if it’s not the best decision for him financially.”
Derby were relegated from the Championship after they were deducted 21 points for breaking financial rules. The club has been declared bankrupt and at one point Wayne was covering the costs of things such as hotel stays and training equipment. It’s thought Wayne, 36, is not being paid a salary, and Coleen, also 36, says they can’t carry on like that.
The family has just moved into a £20m mega- mansion in Cheshire, and while they are by no means hard up, their lifestyle is undeniably expensive.
“She’s pushing for him to get talking to other clubs now, because she’s really worried that he’ll want to stay with Derby out of loyalty,” we’re told.
“But there’s no money. Unfortunately, Wayne is too emotionally involved and is in it for the ‘fight’. Wayne doesn’t care about the money – in a lot of ways, he never has. He’s not the one who really manages that side of things. But Coleen is all over it – and there’s a new anxiety to her when it comes to the finances.
“The new house cost double what they had first estimated when building it, and they started planning this when Wayne was earning different money. The upkeep on the house is just crazy. Plus, their monthly bills are eye-watering. Wayne may be driven by a love for the game, but Coleen is quick to put him straight – and has told him he will love the game just as much in a new team.”
Wayne to give evidence in Wagatha Christie trial
We have been patient – we have been really patient – and at long last, the Wagatha Christie case is finally coming to court. The battle between Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy has dragged on for two-and-a-half years, with accusations thrown, extortionate legal bills accrued, and libel claims flying in every direction. Now, Wayne has been dragged into it, as he gets set to give evidence at the showbiz trial of the decade.
Last week, it was confirmed that Wayne had submitted a witness statement to the court and will now be quizzed by lawyers in the week-long trial at London’s High Court. He’ll be asked about his wife of 14 years’ actions back in October 2019, when she famously accused Becky, 40, of selling stories about her. The mum-of-five, who is married to Leicester City footballer, Jamie Vardy, denied the whole thing, claiming the abuse she received in the aftermath pushed her to the brink. Despite multiple attempts at mediation – and £1.5m legal costs – Becky’s libel case against the star will begin on 9 May.
And Coleen was keen to show her support for her husband as they attended the 2022 Premier League Hall of Fame in London last week, where Wayne was being inducted. The childhood sweethearts cuddled for the cameras, as Coleen congratulated her husband on Instagram.
Meanwhile, Becky’s been fairly quiet ahead of the court case, recently sharing a picture of herself wearing a “Love always wins” jumper. Things could be about to get messier…