Struggling Valencia fire coach Neville

Mar 30, 2016 - 7:32 PM Spanish club Valencia has fired coach Gary Neville less than four months after hiring the former England defender.

The club made the announcement on Wednesday, three days after it lost its third La Liga game in a row.

"After careful consideration, the club decided to make a change with the best interests of the Valencia CF moving forward this season," it said in statement.

"We thank Gary for his work at Valencia and wish him the best in the future."

Valencia said Pako Ayestaran, a former assistant coach, will take over the squad until the end of the season. Ayestaran was with the club from 2001-04, when it won two Spanish league titles and a UEFA Cup trophy.

He later became an assistant coach with Liverpool, helping the English club win the 2005 Champions League and the 2006 FA Cup.

He then worked as head coach for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel and Santos Laguna and Estudiantes Tecos in Mexico.

Neville was in his first head-coaching job. He spent much of his post-Manchester United playing career as a TV pundit before taking the part-time coaching role with England in 2012. He is expected to rejoin the England squad ahead of the upcoming European Championship in France.

Neville leaves Valencia 14th in the Spanish league standings, only six points above relegation zone.

The team has lost three league games in a row and was eliminated by Spanish rival Athletic Bilbao in the round of 16 of the Europa League.

Valencia's next game is at Las Palmas, which is only one point behind the club in the Spanish league.

Source: AAP