SINGAPORE — Valencia CF executive president Chan Lay Hoon has come out in defence of club owner Peter Lim, after questions were raised over the Singaporean billionaire’s commitment to the Spanish La Liga club.

Chan, also a Singaporean, was ­addressing the media in Valencia last evening (Singapore time), a day after the club announced they have parted ways with beleaguered head coach, former Manchester United captain Gary Neville.

According to Spanish reports, some fans were unhappy that Lim has been elusive since he took over the club in May 2014.

“Over the past few months, I have noticed there is a different understanding or perception of how (fans) see a foreign investor,” said Chan, who is one of Lim’s most trusted aides. “Peter has many companies and investments all over the world, and Valencia CF is one of his investments. It is not the biggest, but it is currently the most important.

“Because of his personal commitments, he may not be able to be here all the time. But that does not mean that Peter is not committed to ­Valencia, that he does not care about Valencia, and does not know what is going on.”

She added: “Secondly, I’m not a person who is just recruited (recently) by Peter. I’ve worked with him for the past 25 years, and he knows how I work.

“(For) people in Singapore who know us very well, they will understand that the moment Peter sends me to (work at) a company, that company is the most important (to him). As long as I am here, I am committed. This is something that, over time, fans need to understand.”

Chan also urged the fans, the Spanish media, and all of Valencia’s stakeholders to continue to believe in the club, and that they will tide through this difficult time.

Neville left the club after a patchy record of 10 wins, seven draws and 11 defeats. Valencia are now 14th in the 20-team Spanish league and six points above the relegation zone. His assistant, Pako Ayestaran, has been appointed as interim head coach for the rest of the season.

“We are going through a difficult time at the club. Everyone suffers — people at the club suffer, I suffer, and I have seen all our fans suffer this season,” said Chan. “But I think it is important to (show) everyone that we are a strong club. We will not take our setback lightly.

“We see the issue here this season, and we’ll plan (our way) forward very carefully. We’ll wait for our sporting director Suso (Garcia Pitarch) to study all the (coaching) options available and see what is suitable for the club. We will see a lot of changes.”

Chan, who took her questions in English, assured the assembled Spanish press that she will try to improve her Spanish.

“Of course, I have to learn my Spanish,” she said, acknowledging that mastering the language is also a sign of commitment. “The problem is, because of our daily (busy schedule of running the club), I end up cancelling my Spanish lessons.

“But that (remains) my commitment. I would like to communicate with our fans more often.”

In 2014, Lim paid €420 million (S$657 million) to acquire 70.4 per cent of Valencia’s shares. He appointed Chan in July 2015.

While Chan expressed the Singaporeans’ commitment to the club on Thursday (March 31), she hinted that she will have to relinquish her position in the near future.

“We take (Valencia) as a long-term project. (But) there will come a time when we’ll have to look for a local CEO (chief executive officer). That is part of the plan, because I can’t imagine myself staying here for 10 years.

“I am very committed to see through the construction of the new stadium (a proposed 61,500-seater Nou Mestalla). At the end of the day, Valencia is and always will stay a Spanish club. We are not trying to convert it to a Chinese football club.”