St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson admits the club’s decision to suspend Shaun Rooney is ‘not an ideal scenario’.
Buddies full-back Rooney was suspended on Thursday as confirmed by the club in a statement. It read: “St Mirren Football Club has suspended Shaun Rooney today, on a precautionary basis, after he disclosed to the club his involvement in an alleged incident in Glasgow City Centre last week.”
It was then reported by several media outlets on Friday morning that Police Scotland arrested and charged Rooney following ‘the assault of a woman and a breach of the peace’.
STV News have quoted a Police Scotland spokesperson as saying: “A 28-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with the assault of a woman and a breach of the peace at a takeaway premises in Queen Street, Glasgow, in the early hours of Thursday, September 19.
“He has been released on an undertaking to appear at court at a later date. A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.”
Stephen Robinson reacts to Rooney suspension
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson said that the club’s board made the decision to suspend Rooney.
He said: “Well Shaun’s not available … so it’s not an ideal scenario for a manager, is it? But these things happen and it gives other people opportunities and we’ll deal with it.
“He spoke to the club and made us aware of an incident and as the club said in a statement last night the club are investigating that incident.
“I’m not really involved in that decision-making, it’s a board-level decision and I have got to concentrate on the football side of things.”
Rooney’s St Mirren season so far
Rooney signed for St Mirren from Fleetwood Town in the summer having played under current Ayr United manager Scott Brown at the English club.
He’s already made 10 appearances for the Buddies and scored against Valur in a Europa Conference League qualifier which St Mirren won 4-1 on aggregate.
Rooney has been booked three times in the Scottish Premiership and was lucky not to have seen red in the recent 2-2 draw with Kilmarnock after appearing to kick Kyle Vassell twice while the Killie striker was on the floor.
The Scottish FA admitted afterwards that VAR should have intervened and admitted they got the call not to punish Rooney during the match wrong.
St Mirren are away to Motherwell in the league on Saturday as Robinson visits his old stomping ground searching for a win that move them above Rangers in the table.