31.03.2016 16:49 h

Results not all Neville's fault - Valencia director

Valencia sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch has admitted Gary Neville is far from the only figure to blame for the Spanish side's terrible season a day after the English coach was sacked.

Neville was released of his duties after just three wins in 16 La Liga games during an ill-fated four-month spell in Spain to be replaced by one of his assistants, Pako Ayestaran.

"I want to thank Gary and his coaching team for their dedication and hard work. The results are not just theirs, but belong to many people," Pitarch said as Ayestaran was unveiled on Thursday.

Neville's close relationship with the club's Singaporean owner Peter Lim, with whom he shares a stake in English non-league club Salford City, was a major factor in landing the former Manchester United captain his first senior managerial role.

And Pitarch revealed Ayestaran has travelled to Singapore in the past week to met Lim.

"We had a number of days to analyse the situation we found ourselves in and we wanted to resolve it.

"When we took the decision to replace Gary Neville with Pako we asked for Gary's permission to start the process, which Gary gave us.

"We invited Pako to Singapore and he met with Peter to evaluate the situation, so that Peter could get to know him and Pako could transmit what he could bring to the club."

Valencia sit just six points above the relegation zone and face a difficult run in with trips to Barcelona and Real Madrid to come in the final eight games of the season.

Relegation would be a financial nightmare for Lim's Meriton investments group, who have invested over 500 million euros ($566 million) in the club since completing a takeover in 2014.

"I would like to take this opportunity to say to everyone at the club and our fans that we are going through a difficult time," added Valencia president Lay Hoon Chan.

"We are not going to take this bad moment lightly. The team has to give the maximum level of commitment along with all those that love Valencia."