Portsmouth and Hull rivals Plymouth Aryle appoint former Manchester United serial winner to bolster Wayne Rooney support amid Championship relegation battle

But they’re not the only ones at the bottom end of the table who have been doing something to better their second-tier prospects.

Just days after bottom-placed Hull appointed Ruben Selles as their new head coach, Plymouth Argyle have brought in a serial winner with Manchester United to provide manager Wayne Rooney with the support he needs to steer the Pilgrims away from danger.

The Home Park side sit third from bottom - just one point better off than the Blues - after a run of just one win in nine games. They have also conceded 10 goals in their past two matches - which initially increased the pressure of Rooney, just six months after his appointment.

Owner and chairman Simon Hallett admitted last week that his faith in the former England international remained, despite Plymouth’s worrying form. Now he has backed that up by bringing in the hugely experienced and respected Mike Phelan to act as assistant manager until the end of the season.

The 62-year-old worked with Rooney during his Old Trafford days and was a key figure in Sir Alex Ferguson’s coaching set-up as they secured three Premier League titles, the FIFA Club World Cup and two League Cups during his first spell with the Red Devils.

Phelan returned to United in 2018 to act as a first-team coach under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, before being appointed assistant manager in 2019.

The former Man Utd and Norwich midfielder has been out of work since Solskjær’s sacking during the 2021-22 season. Yet his track record will prove a huge asset to Rooney following the departure of Pete Shuttleworth by mutual consent.

‘Mike is someone I know well having worked with him when I was a player at Manchester United and he has vast experience at the highest level of football,’ said Rooney in a statement on Plymouth's website.

‘I am really pleased to bring him to Argyle and look forward to seeing him get to work immediately.’

Phelan will be in the dugout with Rooney when Plymouth host Swansea at Home Park on Tuesday night.

Pompey return to action on the same night with a home game against Norwich. Selles’ first game in charge of Hull will be against Watford on Wednesday. He watched from the stands as the Tigers were beaten 1-0 at home by Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.