Valencia sack manager Gary Neville

Gary Neville was sacked as Valencia manager on Wednesday as the club brought an end to his fraught four-month spell in charge after the former England and Manchester United defender had delivered only three league wins.

The club, who sit 14th in La Liga on 34 points, will replace Neville with his assistant coach Pako Ayestaran until the end of the season.

“Valencia have today rescinded their contractual relationship with Gary Neville as first team coach,” said a club statement.

“After carefully analysing the sporting situation, the club have decided to make this change in the best interest of Valencia Football Club from now until the end of this season.

"The club thanks Gary Neville for his work and wishes him the best luck in the future.”

Neville was announced as the shock successor to sacked coach Nuno Espirito Santo last December.

In his 16 La Liga games in charge, Neville managed just three league wins, over Espanyol, Malaga and Granada, eight defeats and five draws.

His team reached the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey but were humiliated 8-1 on aggregate by Barcelona and were knocked out of the Europa League's last 16 by fellow Spaniards Athletic Bilbao on away goals.

Ayestaran was assistant coach to Rafael Benitez at Valencia between 2001 and 2004, helping the club to the La Liga title in 2002 and 2004 and the 2004 UEFA Cup.

He rejoined Valencia’s coaching staff in February at Neville’s request.

Gary’s brother Phil, who joined Valencia as assistant coach last year, is to remain at the club.

Gary Neville timeline

Dec 2, 2015: Valencia surprisingly announce Neville as their new manager, appointed until the end of the season following Nuno Espirito Santo's resignation on November 29.

Dec 3: The England assistant coach, who keeps his job with the Three Lions, is unveiled to the media at the Mestalla stadium where he says: "If I'd turned down this job I'd have said goodbye to my credibility."

Dec 5: Neville watches from the stands 72 hours after his appointment as his new side survive a Barcelona onslaught to claim a 1-1 draw in the Primera Division.

Dec 9: His first game in charge ends in defeat as Valencia lose 2-0 to Lyon in the Champions League and go into the Europa League.

Dec 16: Neville registers his first win at the helm, a 2-0 success over Barakaldo in the Copa del Rey.

Dec 31: After two draws, Neville gets a first taste of defeat in the league as Valencia go down to a 1-0 defeat at Villarreal.

Jan 3 2016: Paco Alcacer's 83rd-minute goal earns Valencia a 2-2 draw with Real Madrid at the Mestalla.

Jan 31: Neville's wait for a league win stretches to eight games as his side lose 1-0 at home to strugglers Sporting Gijon, with fans beginning to turn on Neville.

Feb 3: Valencia are humiliated in the Copa del Rey, losing 7-0 in the semi-final first leg at Barcelona. Neville refuses to resign, but admits he felt "helpless" watching the rout. Former Valencia goalkeeper Santiago Canizares calls for Neville's exit.

Feb 7: The pressure increases as Valencia lose 1-0 away to Real Betis, having a late goal disallowed. Neville says: "The obituaries have already been written...but I continue to work, I continue to have belief. Conversations with the owners are between me and the owners."

Feb 10: Valencia earn a creditable 1-1 draw at home with Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg at the Mestalla, but the tie had already been lost.

Feb 18: After returning to winning ways in La Liga, Valencia thrash Rapid Vienna 6-0 in the Europa League, going on to complete a competition record 10-0 aggregate win.

Feb 28: Valencia's form dips again when they lose 3-0 at home to Athletic Bilbao, who would also go on to knock Neville's side out of Europe.

Mar 20: In what proves to be Neville's final match as head coach, Valencia are beaten 2-0 at home by Celta Vigo, a third successive La Liga defeat after which some of the fans chanted "Gary go now".

Mar 30: With Valencia languishing in 14th place in the Primera Division table, only six points above the relegation places, Los Che announced Neville had been relieved of his duties as first-team coach, with former Liverpool assistant Pako Ayestaran taking the reins until the end of the season.