Manchester United to axe Phil Neville and Chris Woods from coaching staff - reports

The pair were believed to have been told the news in the Southampton dressing room following Sunday's 1-1 draw and will follow Rio Ferdinand out the door

Manchester United will axe coaches Phil Neville and Chris Woods, it has been reported, as the club prepare to announce their new manager which is expected to be Netherlands national coach Louis van Gaal.

News that veteran defender Rio Ferdinand would not have his contract renewed broke late on Monday night, and the Daily Mail have added to that story that both Neville and Woods will follow him out of the Old Trafford door.

It is understood that executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward informed both Neville and Woods, who were brought in by former manager David Moyes at the beginning of the season, that they would both have their contracts terminated following the season-ending 1-1 draw with Southampton.

They may have been told the news as early as immediately after the match, with the report continuing that the news was broken to them while they were still in the dressing room, with Ferdinand being told his own fate shortly after in the St Mary’s corridor.

Both Neville and Woods were retained by interim manager Ryan Giggs following Moyes’ dismissal, although Giggs is expected to be replaced by Van Gaal in the coming days with the Welshman set to take a role on the Dutchman’s coaching staff.

United personnel are said to have been angered by the decision to make do with the two coaches as well as the was Ferdinand has had his United career ended, having given 12 years of service to the club in which they have won six Premier League titles.

It appears that the sight of the ‘Class of 92’ on the Old Trafford bench will not be seen next season, with Neville set to exit the club, and the future of Nicky Butt remains unclear with Van Gaal likely to bring in his preferred coaches as well as retaining Giggs.

Paul Scholes has also been helping his former team0mates with training at their Carrington base, with the retired England international coming back into the frame after being neglected by Moyes during his tenure.