Neville Neville, the father of former footballers Gary and Phil and England netball coach Tracey, has died in Australia, England Netball has announced.

A statement released yesterday morning by Bury Football Club had said that Neville, their former commercial director, had been taken “very seriously ill” while holidaying in Australia with his family.

And a subsequent statement from England Netball revealed that he had passed away at a hospital in Sydney. He was 65.

Reports suggest Neville, who visited Malta many times and had many friends here, died after suffering a heart attack.

A further statement from Bury yesterday, expressing “deep regret” at the news of Neville’s death, clarified that he had been in Australia with his wife Jill to support Tracey, whose England side have travelled to Sydney for the 2015 Netball World Cup.

“We would like to end this statement by simply saying – ‘Where would this club be without Neville?”

“Rest in Peace big Nev,” Bury said in their statement.

England Netball’s statement said: “England Netball is saddened to announce that Neville Neville, father of head coach Tracey, passed away at hospital in Sydney.

“Our immediate thoughts are with Tracey and the Neville family and we please ask that the privacy of the family is respected at this particular time.”

Manchester United said via Twitter: “We are sad to learn that Neville Neville, father of Gary and Phil, has passed away. Our condolences go out to his family.”

The English FA also posted a message on Twitter, saying: “Our condolences go out to @GNev2, @fizzer18 and rest of the Neville family following the passing of their father, Neville.”