PHIL NEVILLE reckons he could not be more qualified for the job of England women’s head coach. What nonsense.

The former England, Manchester United and Everton player was chosen as the permanent successor to Mark Sampson last week despite having no prior experience of working in the women’s game and managing one match in the men’s game, at Salford City, a team he co-owns.

The appointment of Neville has met criticism for his lack of experience and for messages sent from his Twitter account. One tweet from December 2012 read: "U women of [sic] always wanted equality until it comes to paying the bills #hypocrites".

Yesterday was a chance for him to set the record straight but instead he scored more own goals. In his first interview since being appointed as he insisted: “I’m not a sexist. I have lived my life right. I have got a wife, a daughter, a sister who is England’s Netball coach,” you half expected him to add: “and some of my best friends are women”.

As it turned out, what he did say wasn’t much better: “It doesn’t get much better than managing your country.

Apart from Gareth Southgate’s job I think this is the best job in the world.”

So, Neville believes that managing men at the top level is more prestigious than managing women. So much for “I’m not sexist.”

The best thing now would be for him to shut up, get on with his well-paid job and realise he is incredibly lucky to have been given a chance to work alongside women every bit as dedicated and professional as their male counterparts.