Valencia (Spain), March 31 (IANS): Spanish football club Valencia has announced that Pako Ayestaran will replace head coach Gary Neville with immediate effect.

The Englishman took charge of Valencia last December but departs as the La Liga side is at 14th place in the premier domestic competition, reports Efe.

"Valencia Football Club has today terminated its contractual relationship with Gary Neville as first team coach," the club statement read on Wednesday.

"After carefully analysing the sporting situation, the club has decided to make this change in the best interests of Valencia Football Club overlooking the end of this season," the note added.

"The club thanks Gary Neville for his work and wishes him the best of luck in the future," the statement noted.

"Consequently, the Club today named Pako Ayestaran as head coach until the end of the season," added the club.

Neville said of his sacking "I would like to thank Valencia Football Club, the fans, staff and the players.

"I would have liked to have continued the work I started but understand that we are in a results business and in the 28 games (W10, D7, L11) they have not been to my standards or to those which are required by this club," the 41-year-old coach said, according to Valencia's official website.

Ayestaran was assistant coach of Valencia between 2001 and 2004 and helped the club to two league titles and the UEFA Cup.

From 2004 to 2007 in Liverpool, Ayestaran worked as an assistant when they won the Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup in 2006.