Wayne Rooney says he is ready to end his distinguished career as a player if he's installed as Derby County's full-time manager by the club's prospective new owners.
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Rooney will take sole charge of the Championship club for Saturday's home game against Wycombe having been been part of an interim coaching quartet of Liam Rosenior, Shay Given and Justin Walker.
The Rams sacked Phillip Cocu earlier this month after they had won only one of their first 11 games and they have since lost their last two matches.
"We're focussing on the game tomorrow, that's what we're looking at and beyond that I'll speak to (new director of football) Steve McClaren and the new owners once that is finalised," Rooney said.
A consortium headed by Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan is expected to complete its takeover of the club in the next few days and was involved in the appointment of former England boss McClaren earlier this week.
When asked if he was ready to hang up his boots, Rooney said: "If I'm managing the team for a longer scale, I don't think it's possible to manage and play, so of course that is a possibility.
"If I'm not managing the team and I'm part of the coaching staff then I'll continue to play, but if I'm asked to manage the team on a full-time basis then of course that will be the end of my playing days, yes."
Derby are bottom of the England's second-tier league, six points from safety. They are winless in their last nine matches and are on a run of four straight defeats.
Rooney said: "We felt it needed one voice, one person to make the decisions on the team and substitutions during the game and we felt I was the right man for that, so that's where we're at.
"It's exciting for me to do that. Management is always something I've stressed I want to go into, so it's an opportunity for me to try and pick the right team to get a positive result.
"I played in the last game, but if I'm making decisions on who plays and who doesn't and obviously preparing the team, I wouldn't be able to give it my full attention and still be part of the game, so I won't be involved tomorrow."
Rooney, 35, has yet to gain his full set of coaching badges, but is making progress on gaining his A licence.
Australian Associated Press
