Phillip Cocu is on the shovel seat at Derby County, writes The Sun Wednesday evening. The English boulevard newspaper writes that the Dutch manager will get his congé if a satisfactory result is not achieved against Watford on Friday evening. Derby County Chairman Mel Morris already has a striking successor in mind, with Wayne Rooney as the lead candidate to take over from Cocu.

It would have been close if Cocu had already been fired. Derby County won 0-1 against Norwich City before the international match, according to The Sun has in any case temporarily extended Cocu’s employment in England. Ironically, in the 87th minute, Rooney scored the winning goal against the Canaries, giving Derby County the first points of the season. Before the visit to Norwich City, duels with Reading (0-2), Preston North End (EFL Cup, 1-2), Luton Town (2-1) and Blackburn Rovers (0-4) were lost.

Due to the lousy start of the season, Cocu’s job would now hang by a thread. If the home game against Watford is lost on Friday evening, the 49-year-old coach gets his congé. Cocu was hired at Derby County last summer to succeed Frank Lampard, who had left for Chelsea, having previously worked at PSV and Fenerbahçe. The Rams finished tenth in the Championship last season and missed out on six points in the playoffs for promotion.

If Cocu is fired, Rooney must become his successor as Derby County manager. It is not immediately clear whether his career will end immediately, which took him further past Everton, Manchester United, again Everton and DC United. The 34-year-old forward has been playing with the Championship club since January 2020 and has a contract until the end of this season, with an option for another year. For now, the 120-time England international has scored 7 goals and 3 assists in 29 games for Derby County.

Rooney makes up the Rams also part of the staff and is currently in the process of getting his trainer papers. Since Rooney has not yet graduated, Derby County may have to bring in a front man if he is appointed as Cocu’s successor. The Sun claims that John Gregory is in the picture for this position. Gregory has worked as a manager for Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Derby County, Queens Park Rangers and most recently Chennaiyin FC, among others.