It’s been a bad week to be a Neville.
Gary Neville was removed from his post as Valencia manager on Wednesday after enduring a La Liga record that left the club hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone.
Neville had joined Valencia in December but flattered to deceive in his first foray into management and he was sacked with immediate effect during the international break.
Interestingly, assistant coach Phil Neville, who was with Valencia before his brother’s appointment, was kept on by the club following Pako Ayestarán’s appointment as head coach until the end of the season.
But, apparently, the younger Neville has seen his responsibilities cut by the new manager.
According to a report in Saturday’s Daily Mail, Phil Neville has been demoted to a position whereby he will be involved with the training of the players but will not take part in matchday activities.
The former Everton defender did not travel with the Valencia squad for their tie at Las Palmas on Saturday evening and it comes as something of a slap in the fact for the assistant coach who played a significant role last season in the earning of a place in the Champions League.
The Mail claim it is a power play from Ayestarán as he looks to exorcise the ghost of Gary Neville and secure himself as the next permanent Valencia manager beyond the summer.
Ayestarán claims to have been backed by Gary Neville for the position but, speaking on Friday, also claimed that there are too many members of staff at the Mestalla.
“We have realised that we do not need to have such a big staff,” Ayestarán said.
“We have made mistakes, it’s important to bring together ideas but in this short space of time we have to be very clear about what we want from the players.”
