Source: PA
Armband days are over for Neville
Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed Gary Neville will no longer wear the captain's armband at Manchester United.
The veteran defender replaced Roy Keane as skipper when the combative Irishman left Old Trafford in 2005. However, for the last three seasons, Neville's career has been badly hampered by injury. Under normal circumstances, Ryan Giggs would step into the breach but it has been noticeable this season that the honour has gone to Nemanja Vidic.
The Serbian defender did the job at Everton on Saturday even when Neville was in the team. And, while the 35-year-old remains club captain, Ferguson felt it was important to have some continuity with who did the job on the pitch.
"Gary is still club captain but I have been looking for someone who is going to be playing consistently every week," said Ferguson. "Over the last two or three years we have had to pass the baton along the line a few times.
"We have not had a consistent captain because Gary's injuries have prevented him playing all the time. If he was available all the time he would be the captain. He would have been on Saturday. But I have to look at the overall picture.
"With all due respect to Gary's time at United, he knows and I know, we don't play him every week and I am looking for someone who does (play)."
