Rooney had earned only two wins since his controversial appointment in October.

Birmingham were sixth in the Championship when he started, and by the end of the last round of matches had fallen to 20th in the 24-team league.

The club was taken over last summer by a company owned by American businessman Tom Wagner, who promptly got rid of popular coach John Eustace, who had been in charge for 15 months and steered the club away from relegation.

"Birmingham City has today parted company with manager Wayne Rooney and first-team coach Carl Robinson," the club said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Despite their best efforts, results have not met the expectations that were made clear at the outset. Therefore, the board feels that a change in management is in the best interests of the football club."

Birmingham lost 3-0 at Leeds on Monday, with supporters calling for the removal of former Manchester United and England striker Rooney.

NFL great Tom Brady became a minority owner of the club in August.

Rooney thanked Wagner, Brady and club CEO Garry Cook for the opportunity, but said he wasn't given enough time to turn around the club's fortunes.

"Football is a results business - and I recognise they have not been at the level I wanted them to be," a statement from Rooney said.

"However, time is the most precious commodity a manager requires and I do not believe 13 weeks was sufficient to oversee the changes that were needed."

The 38-year-old Rooney, Manchester United's all-time leading goalscorer, said it "will take me some time to get over this setback" but that he eventually will "prepare for the next opportunity in my journey as a manager".

Previously manager at second-tier Derby County, Rooney had joined Birmingham in early October after one full season in charge at DC United in the USA's Major League Soccer.

Australian Associated Press