Newport County Season Preview: prolonging the fairytale

As League Two survival stories go, Newport County’s 16/17 revival takes some beating. Obituaries were written for Wycombe before their final day resurrection in 13/14, then Hartlepool bridged a 10 point gap a year later. Although opportunism pushed the Chairboys onto a promotion tilt the following year, Pools lost momentum and soon became the victims of Newport’s escape last term. The question facing the Exiles now is simple: can they emulate Wycombe, or will old habits return? The Football Lab discusses all with Taff from The Amber Army.

When Michael Flynn took over in March, you’d just lost 4-0 at home to Leyton Orient, leaving you 11 points adrift of safety. The following 12 games must surely go down as one of the greatest escapes in Football League history? 

I think it should be although it won’t be held in high regard in the footballing world. That because of our level. At least Thierry Henry likes us though.

You were one of the best teams in League Two in those 12 games, but have been the third worst over the last 92. Upon which set of matches do you judge this group of players?

It has to be our final 12. They are the most recent and with our current managerial regime. 3 out of 4 managers failed over 2 seasons. Flynn then came in against all odds, with a plan and this group of players saw it through. Shows the difference a good manager makes.

This is Flynn’s first transfer window in management, having only just hung up his boots. Has the experience and contacts of Lennie Lawrence played an important role this summer?

Let’s not forget Wayne Hatswell too. Also James Bittner. This team developed the master plan and the contacts between them all will be invaluable. Lawrence nonetheless will be a big influence. Business has been good so far. We shouldn’t need too many more.

You’ve signed Matty Dolan, one of Yeovil’s best players last year. Because you’ve not needed a complete overhaul this time, has the club been able to focus on quality rather than quantity?

Definitely yes. We kept the better players who won that 7 in 12 and I think Dolan will be an upgrade on Mark Randall. Randall although played a big part in keeping us up, never quite filled Mark Byrne’s boots. Dolan looks more the Byrne equivalent.

A few fans are surprised to see Ben Tozer’s contract extension triggered while Mitch Rose was released. Your views?

Tozer was arguably our best player during the first 1/3 of the season. I believe he fell out with Westley and developed an injury. A dedicated Tozer will be invaluable. Mitch Rose never really shone like we hoped so not much disappointment from our fans.

You averaged two points per game when David Pipe, Mark O’Brien and Mickey Demetriou all started last season. You must be delighted that all three are staying on?

All three were colossal in our great escape. Pipe was  big influence and the other 2 have potential to play in League One and beyond. All three are massive!

Academy graduate Tom Owen-Evans has signed a new deal after playing a key role in the survival push. Including Pipe and Flynn, is there a sense that the club is now represented by local people?

Tom is actually from Bristol but came through our academy so we regard him as one of our own. He has bags of potential and next season could be big for him.

Frank Nouble joins from Southend – are fans pleased to have signed a striker who has always played at a higher level, or concerned at the number of clubs he’s played for?

He has a name but not a scoring record. To turn a pro contract down at Chelsea to sign for a fee for West Ham, it shows he has something about him. Maybe he may find his level in League Two. Many of us hopeful of this.

You share Rodney Parade with two Rugby clubs. Until that changes, will the quality of the pitch – and by extension the football – be limited?

Rodney Parade has now been procured by the WRU along with control of the Dragons. We seem to be developing a more professional relationship with them than the old Rodney Parade Ltd BOD. They are also laying a new DESSO type pitch which means our pitch woes will be a thing of the past. At a cost though. Our first 4 games of the season will be away from home while the work comes to completion.

What are your thoughts ahead of the League Two season as a whole? Any potential dark horses?

League 2 will be more open this season without arguably the 4 biggest clubs now in League 1. The teams who dropped aren’t as big with the exception of Coventry, but we don’t know what set up they will have. Portsmouth will tell you that you can get it wrong with a big budget in this division. I see Stevenage doing well. Exeter will have a good season too.

Where will you finish? I have to remind you that you said midtable last year…

On paper we had a team capable of mid table but I think Feeney and Westley got things horribly wrong. We have a stronger squad this time around. If we utilise the loan market well and Flynn carries the momentum from last season over, I can see us top part of mid table. A boring mid table season suits me!

The Football Lab’s Verdict

While the post-survival optimism at Newport County is understandable, with key defenders retained, a pinch of scepticism is advised. Flynn was the man they needed last term but he faces a different set of challenges in his first full season in management. The squad’s limitations have shown and might again once the novelty of the great escape wears off. 21st