ROVERS’ head of athletic performance Chris Neville has announced that he will be leaving the club after four-and-a-half years.

Neville took to social media to announce the news which he revealed was a personal decision.

He made the move to Ewood Park in January 2013, following Michael Appleton to East Lancashire from Portsmouth, and has since gone to work under Gary Bowyer, Paul Lambert, Owen Coyle and Tony Mowbray.

“All good things come to an end and after four-and-a-half years at BRFC it is time to move on,” Neville wrote.

“BRFC is a great club, steeped in history, with some excellent players, staff and fans.

“I’m sure the club will move forward and challenge for promotions over the next few seasons.

“It has been an honour to have been a small part of BRFC and I would like to thank my friends and colleagues for putting up with me over my time there and wish everyone success in the future.

“However, I’m now looking forward to developing new and exciting challenges over the next few years.”

Neville has also worked with the England national team, as recently as the 2014 World Cup in Brazil where he was one of the conditioning coaches in Roy Hodgson's backroom team.

He also acted as a masseur for Sven Goran Eriksson’s squad in Germany in 2006 before being invited back on the backroom staff, in a new role, by former England, and Rovers, boss Hodgson before the 2012 European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.

A club statement read: "Blackburn Rovers would like to thank Chris for all his efforts and wish him well for the future."