'Whatever the truth, what was married Wayne Rooney doing in a club in the first place?'

It’s pretty easy to take one look at the photos of Wayne Rooney and some scantily clad young blondes, and think you know exactly what’s going on.

Wayne Rooney, however, insists that all is not what it seems. It’s the opposite, in fact. He’s called the police over the photos, apparently alleging that he is the victim of some kind of crime.

And you know what? Maybe he is. The problem here is that it doesn’t really matter. It’s like that old saying, it’s not the money, it’s the principle of the thing.

It’s not the embarrassing photos, it’s the circumstances that allowed them to be taken. Because what was a fast-approaching 40-years-old, married father-of-four doing in a nightclub on a Saturday night in the first place?

Wayne Rooney was pictured surrounded by scantily clad women at the weekend (Twitter)

Never mind a fast-approaching 40-years-old, married father-of-four with the past and reputation that Wayne Rooney has, while his long-suffering wife is embroiled in a stressful court case and needs his support more than ever?

And even if there turns out to be a perfectly good reason why he had to be in a nightclub, why chat so closely to women, in a way that allows any kind of photo to be taken which might be misconstrued?

And then, why oh why oh why go back to a hotel room with them, even if, as we are expected to believe, the intention was entirely innocent?

Wayne Rooney put himself in this situation. If he’d been at home with his family - with the wife who has stood by him time and time again, through humiliation and humiliation again - none of this would have been able to happen.

Unsympathetic? Maybe. Accurate? Yup.

Whatever parental locks are on the devices Chez Rooney at the moment, one day his kids will be able to google their dad.

Clearly there will be many sporting achievements for them to read about and be proud of. But with this carelessness, unfortunately there’s now yet another story added to those that will make them feel the opposite.

What a shame.

Earlier on Saturday, Derby County, the team Wayne manages, continued their losing streak by being beaten 2-1 by League Two side Salford City.

Afterwards, he announced, “All I can do is try to bring some dignity and pride back to this club.”

How’s that working out so far, Wayne?