Gary Neville revealed that Dan Ashworth expected him to replace Roy Hodgson as England manager.
Neville took over as manager of Valencia in 2015 but a dreadful spell in charge saw him sacked from the Liga side before the end of the season.
At the time, Ashworth was a director at the FA and is now expected to join the backroom staff at Manchester United following his departure from Newcastle United.
Speaking on Sky Bet, Neville discussed a phone call with Ashworth suggesting that the path was open for him to replace Hodgson when he stepped down from the role.
He said: “I’ve never said this publicly, but I remember getting the Valencia job in December, and Dan Ashworth rang me and said this was the perfect move for me to be on that next step for when Roy Hodgson decided he wanted to leave the England job, for me to take over.
“I always remember that phone call and him saying this was the perfect opportunity, but I look back now, and it was right that I failed in the job because I didn’t put the work in. With how my work ethic is now, I needed to fail to have that slap in the face moment, for me to get back to it, which is where I am now.”
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