EXCLUSIVE: Axed Salford boss Phil Power hits out at 'hypocritical' Class of 1992

While the famous five of Old Trafford assistant boss Ryan Giggs, United reserve team coach Nicky Butt and leading TV pundits Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Paul Scholes who bought the EvoStik First Division North club in the spring go about their daily businesses, popular boss Power admits to "being bewildered."

Despite at the time being second in the league and looking certs to be in the promotion shake up at the end of the season Power on January 2nd became the first managerial casualty of the band of Red Devils brothers who have set their sights on becoming a Championship club within 15 years.

Especially galling for 47-year-old Power is that the Nevilles often pontificate about how managers in the Premier League should be given more time by largely impatient boardrooms.

Phil Neville bemoaned United ending the David Moyes era before either had placed their feet under the table. Louis Van Gaal's regime, with Giggs alongside the Dutchman, didn't exactly enjoy the best of starts only for United to keep their nerve, with the club now preparing to entertain Southampton today in third place.

That philosophy hasn't been extended to Power who saw Phil Neville and Scholes replace him in the dug out last weekend in the 2-1 win over Kendal. Salford have now employed Ramsbottom United's joint managers Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley.

Power said: "The biggest disappointment was that none of the lads (class of 92) rang me up, either to thank me or to give me an explanation. It just came completely out of the blue. "I've often seen Gary on TV or in the newspapers saying that managers should be given more time.

"So yes, it's definitely a bit hypocritical now isn't it? I respect the five lads for all their playing careers but as a manager I've had to get rid of players this season.

"No way would I dream of texting or even phoning them to tell them the news. I would sit the lad down and tell him it hadn't worked out.

"I expected that back myself. That was the side of it that I am more disappointed with. Nobody had the time to meet me. I'm completely bewildered.

"Three days later Phil did send me a text and funny enough on Thursday Gary sent me a text - six days after being sacked.

"Phil said good luck while Gary wants to meet me. I think that should have happened before I was sacked to be honest." Instead it was left to chairman Karen Baird to deliver the bullet.

"We lost 3-2 at Droylsden on New Year's Day. Then I got a text message off the chairman asking if we could meet. I said yes. The only inkling I had that something was wrong was normally if something needed to be said it was just said, "Power explained.

"I went to meet her. I think she felt a little uncomfortable. She told me the performances hadn't been good enough. We'd lost the last two games. She told me 'we think it's time for a change and you're sacked.'

"I replied that whatever the performances had been like we were two points off the top. The new management team came in on the back of five straight defeats.

"Don't get me wrong I was more excited than anybody when they took over. And I'm still grateful I've had the opportunity because I've taken training alongside Phil Neville and I've seen training methods I would never have seen at this level.

"It's been a great experience. It has been more hands on. My phone was always going. I could have been full time even though I wasn't."

His main employment is looking after kids up to the age of 17 at a local children's home - helping him place a perspective on his chastening Salford City experience.

"I knew when they came in I had to produce. I felt I was delivering and the league table shows that. Even having all those celebrity names involved didn't faze me."he added.

"I was realistic to know like anyone in football, there comes a point if the results are not good enough you get the sack.

"Also if people think you have gone as far as you can they will look for somebody else. I wasn't under any illusions. But I don't think I had reached either of those points.

"I've had managers from our league on the phone asking what the hell's going on?

"I'm not bitter just bewildered and very disappointed in the way I've been treated."