MADRID: Spanish club Valencia has fired coach Gary Neville less than four months after hiring the former England defender.

The club said Wednesday in a statement that it "decided to make a change with the best interests of the Valencia CF moving forward this season." It thanked Neville and wished "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.

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