Moyes wants Neville to follow him to Old Trafford for new United backroom team

By Chris Wheeler

PUBLISHED: 17:47 EST, 9 May 2013 | UPDATED: 17:49 EST, 9 May 2013


Phil Neville is in line for a return to Old Trafford as part of new manager David Moyes’s backroom team.

The former Manchester United player was already set to leave Everton later this month after eight years, and could now follow Moyes back to his old club.

Neville, 36, could also be joined by Everton’s reserve-team coach David Weir, although both men may yet feature prominently in the search for Moyes’s successor at Goodison Park.

Together again? New Manchester United manager David Moyes wants Phil Neville (left) at Old Trafford

Together again? New Manchester United manager David Moyes wants Phil Neville (left) at Old Trafford

Former Red: Neville made 386 appearances for United from 1994 to 2005 before moving to Everton

Former Red: Neville made 386 appearances for United from 1994 to 2005 before moving to Everton

Weir, 42, also spent eight years as a player at Everton before returning a year ago.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s sudden retirement, and the appointment of Moyes, has created a degree of uncertainty among United’s coaches. Normally, if a manager is sacked or chooses to leave for another job, he is followed by his backroom staff, but this situation is different. There will not be wholesale changes, although it is understood that Moyes will be able to bring a couple of staff with him.

That leaves a question mark over Ferguson’s assistant Mike Phelan and first-team coach Rene Meulensteen. Phelan has considered management, having come close to taking over at Burnley in 2010. It remains to be seen if he and Meulensteen have a long-term future at the club.

Great Scot: Everton coach David Weir could also join United, but may be promoted to the Goodison Park helm

Great Scot: Everton coach David Weir could also join United, but may be promoted to the Goodison Park helm

Moyes wants to bring in someone he trusts, and Neville in particular could be a key figure in helping the new manager settle, considering his background with both clubs. A member of United’s famous 1995 Youth Cup-winning side, Neville lifted six titles as a player at Old Trafford and also won the Champions League.

Set to work with the England Under 21s  at the European Championship in Israel this summer, Neville has maintained close ties with former team-mates like Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, who could also be given coaching roles by Moyes.

Safe? Sir Alex Ferguson's final assistant Mike Phelan (right) may not keep his role at Old Trafford

Safe? Sir Alex Ferguson's final assistant Mike Phelan (right) may not keep his role at Old Trafford

 

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This aint the real world its just the press speculating, It will be sorted soon enough !

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the panic has already began ! :) - lfcwazza, liverpool, 10/5/2013 10:28 ......................please don't panic - calm yourself down. Without any European involvement next season you will have more time to get over you injuries etc and concentrate on the English cups, perhaps may be even success ful in the league cup........that would give you some encouragement

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David Moyes is coming in to one of the biggest clubs in the world surely he will want to keep backroom staff that the players know and trust or is it just me ?

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- john , Macclesfield, United Kingdom, 10/5/2013 11:28! What's his "getting on" got to do with it?

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Moyes would do best to adjust to United, not make United adjust to him. Keep everything as normal as possible for now. And I'm sure he knows that. He's not just going to come in to a club as well set up as United and start windmilling his arms around until everything is destroyed.

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Moyes has the option if he wishes to do it, he would be well advised however to be very careful he does not cause too much disruption in the back room, the knowledge and experience there should not be underestimated, he would do well to make his future plans clear to each and every one of the present back room staff, and soon. - robbie g, dunbar, United Kingdom, 10/5/2013 8:28 He doesn't start for 6 weeks. As he is the current Everton manager I'd like to see him being pretty busy during that time with the club that is paying him - working with the chairman to sort out his successor. While the newspapers buy a Man Utd team for next season on his behalf.

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Isn't this all a bit untidy? Surely this should all be done after the end of the season, which is only 9 days away. - ivanitch, Wessex, United Kingdom, 10/5/2013 8:59 You're taking the gutter press too seriously. It should all be done after the end of June - when the new manager starts his job.

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Don't start fixing something that isn't broken. We don't want Everton staff at United. - The Boot Of Cantona, Old Trafford Trophy Room, 10/5/2013 9:13 We'll take back Rooney and Moyes then thanks. And I'm sure we'd be quite happy to keep the rest of our staff. However, your future manager might think differently unfortunately.

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Fair enough he played for Everton as well, but 75% of his career was in a red shirt!! - RedToto , Macclesfield, United Kingdom, 10/5/2013 10:39 No wonder we let him go from Everton then. He's been here 8 years - he's really getting on.

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This is my point exactly. Any half decent self respecting manager would want to being his own backroom staff with him. Moyes the best man for the job, what a farce !

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