PFA chairman offers Rooney support

PFA chairman Clarke Carlisle has offered the union’s support to Wayne Rooney throughout his ongoing dispute with Manchester United.

Rooney has been strongly linked with a departure from Old Trafford since the end of the 2012-13 campaign, with his allegedly uneasy relationship with manager David Moyes and uncertainty over his standing in the squad thought to be the reasons.

Widespread reports on Tuesday also suggested Rooney was “angry and confused” over the current impasse regarding his future, while news of a rejected bid from Chelsea surfaced 24 hours later.

Carlisle, who has chaired the Professional Footballers’ Association since 2010, has now moved to insist Rooney will receive the union’s full backing.

“The PFA would be happy to support any player in whatever situation they’re going through. If they feel that they need our advice and our support we are there 24/7 for every player across the game,” he told OMNISPORT.

“In a situation like this that’s beyond our jurisdiction, we have no control over the press and what they say, we have no control over supporters and what they say. All we can try and ensure is that Wayne Rooney has the support that he needs and that in any dealings that go on they follow due process.”

Former Burnley defender Carlisle went on to admit, however, that the PFA cannot intervene in situations where their services are not requested by the player.

“That’s the extent that our involvement can take and even then it has to be on request, we can’t just impose ourselves on Wayne Rooney’s situation. As long as he knows that we’re here should he want or need us, that’s all we can do,” he added.

“There is going to be discussion when there’s such an international footballing superstar and his career looks like it may be taking a turn left or right, but what can we do as a union?

“For someone like Wayne Rooney, actually not that much because he has all his trusted advisors around him. It’s more for the players who can’t afford to have that level of contact and help that we generally find we have to support on a day-to-day basis.

“Each and every club is its own entity and whatever their business dealings are their concern and not ours. As long as there are no employee rights infringed then there is nothing that we can do about it as a union.”