“Many of them were interested in the role but they were not willing to put themselves into this very difficult – as they saw it – and challenging role.
“Moving your family halfway round the world and then being subjected to what they thought might be massive intrusion into their lives was a risk they were not wiling to take, and I respect that.”
Neville, 41, has coached at former club Manchester United, Valencia and England Under-21s but has only managed for one game – at National League Salford City, a team he co-owns.
“I don’t think this is a job that you force on somebody, this is a job that somebody has to want,” Campbell said.
“When you speak to Phil, you can hear he is passionate, and he believes he can work with these players to win the World Cup, hopefully an Olympic medal, and hopefully a home European Championships in 2021.
“During his interview, which was six hours long, he spoke very eloquently about his passion to help and mentor and grow women in the game – something that no-one else talked to me about with the same thoughtfulness that he had.”