Top bloke, and real family man.. I don’t get this rush to condemn Nev’s new role

PHIL NEVILLE deserves better than a feeding frenzy of carping over his appointment as England Women’s coach.

Instead of picking holes, I prefer the positive outlook: It could be the start of an exciting new chapter for the Lionesses.

I’ve seen a lot of comments about Neville’s suitability for the job, I’ve read a lot of negativity and I’ve heard people saying it’s a left-field appointment.

But why shouldn’t Phil Neville manage the England women’s football team?

Why shouldn’t he be successful?

Why are people trying to bring him down, and ambush him about historical tweets – for which he has apologised, and rightly so – before he has even been fitted for his blazer?

I have known Phil Neville personally for 25 years, since I was in the Class of ’92 at Manchester United with his brother Gary, and I’m going to stick up for him because he is a top, top bloke and a proper family man.

And if he is given a chance, I believe he will also be a fantastic asset for women’s football.

For a start, how about drawing on his experience of 689 club games for United and Everton, plus 59 England caps?

When people complain that hardly any English coaches try their luck abroad, how about applauding him for going to Valencia with his brother and testing himself in a different culture?

How about acknowledging that he comes from a family of sporting achievers, including his sister Tracey winning a Commonwealth Games bronze medal, and more recently, becoming England netball coach?

Yes, it’s his first post as a manager.

But the FA have decided he was the best person for the job and, for me, some of the comments railing against his appointment have a hint of jealousy.

The expansion of women’s football has been one of the big success stories of the last 10 years.

When Kelly Smith retired last season, we celebrated the career of England’s greatestever female player.

The current England captain, Manchester City defender Steph Houghton, is a household name in her own right.

Former England internationals Rachel Brownfinnis and Alex Scott are now accomplished pundits for various media outlets.

I don’t understand the rush to bury Neville’s appointment.

When he takes his place in the dugout for his first game in charge, against France in March, he will bring huge media attention – and surely that can only be a good thing for the women’s game.

Whatever he has achieved in football, Phil Neville has always bounced back from adversity – from giving away a crucial penalty at Euro 2000 to being thrown in the deep end as a pundit at the World Cup in Brazil.

He became a dependable player and, as a pundit, he worked exceptionally hard to join the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and his brother Gary as expert analysts.

Neville doesn’t pitch up for games and busk it – his research is meticulous.

If he commentating on the radio, he will have compiled notes on every player.

And he doesn’t go on the airwaves because he needs the airtime, or just to boost his ego.

He simply loves football, what’s so terrible about that?

I’m sure he has had offers from elsewhere, but the England Women job appealed to him because it was a challenge, not a comfort zone.

I admire him for taking on a side which is already ranked No.3 in the world.

If he takes them any higher, England will be on course for glory.

The critics, including a few ex-players, say he has not got the qualifications or experience to land the job.

But the Football Association revealed other candidates withdrew from the field, so it’s hardly his fault if he was the best person left in the race, is it?

And as for the dirt-diggers who uncovered those tweets from several years ago... in the era of social media, there won’t be many people who have never tweeted something they later regretted.

Neville played for some great managers and he will use his contacts in the game to give it his very best shot.

Instead of dragging him down, I only wish him well – and I would respectfully suggest the country gets behind him.