Wayne and Coleen Rooney defend £4m legal action

England striker Wayne Rooney and his wife will begin defending themselves against a £4m (€4.6m) legal claim today.

The couple are being sued by management company the James Grant Group (JGG) for loss of earnings.

The Manchester United star split from JGG in 2008 when his agent, Paul Stretford, left the company.

Mr Stretford set up a new company and took his two star clients with him.

JGG owns Proactive Sports Management, the company founded by Mr Stretford, which previously represented the young stars.

The lawsuit will see Rooney and his wife Coleen give evidence in court – but it is not clear if they will appear today or later in the week.

The hearing at Manchester Mercantile Court is listed to last three weeks.

Yesterday, a spokesman for the couple said neither Proactive Sports Management nor the James Grant Group worked for the Rooneys for 15 months.

He said: “They regard the defence of these claims as a matter of principle.”

The hearing begins at 10am.