By Paul Jones
Michael Flynn has hinted he could be on the move from Newport County following their heart-breaking Wembley play-off defeat to Morecambe.
The Newport boss has admitted to unhappiness after learning the club intend to appoint a sporting director to work either over or alongside him.
Flynn suggested he could have reached the end of the road after County’s crushing 1-0 extra-time loss that denied them a place in League One.
The 40-year-old has a year left on his contract but it has been reported that the club are set to appoint former Scarborough boss Darren Kelly as sporting director.
Flynn – who is likely to be a target for other clubs should he seek to move – said: “I’ve got a year left. They have employed a sporting director with a three-year contract so I need to sit down and see which direction the club are going in and where we go from there.
“I am not against that as an idea. There are things to talk about behind the scenes.
“I am not happy at the minute, the emotions are high. I’ve got another year and I am somebody who is honourable but let’s see how the chats go.”
“I can’t say 100 per cent that I will be back in August. A lot of things have gone on this season that I have not been happy with, I’ve kept them quiet and we will be sitting down and having a conversation.
“A few things need to get ironed out. I love this club more than anything, that’s probably why it gets to me as much as it does. Let’s just say there might be two different ways where we think the club is going.”
Neither Morecambe nor Newport were able to find the back of the net in normal time, but in the second half of extra time the deadlock was broken by Carlos Mendes Gomes’ penalty as the Shrimps preserved their perfect Wembley record to make club history.
The Spaniard sent goalkeeper Tom King the wrong way after referee Bobby Madley had pointed to the spot when substitute John O’Sullivan was brought down by Ryan Haynes, but the contact appeared to be outside the area.
In the absence of VAR, however, the decision stood. Newport had a penalty shout themselves turned down in the first half, when Shrimps goalkeeper Kyle Letheren appeared to make contact with Scot Bennett’s head, but the referee that time waived play on.
Newport County got completely shafted by the referee in that game. A former prem ref as well. What a horrible way to lose a game and embarrassing display from the Morecombe player diving for a pen which was outside the box anyway. Gutted for Mike Flynn.
— Andy Jones (@andyj7) May 31, 2021
Flynn took aim at the decisions, saying the absence of VAR for the crucial clash was a “cop out”.
“I said it two years ago, they’ve got to have VAR at these big games. They’ll come back with the excuse ‘we haven’t had it all season so it’s unethical’,” the County boss said.
“That’s a load of rubbish. There’s not one game in the season, other than the play-off final that determines which league you’re going to be playing in. So that’s a cop out.
“It’s two terrible decisions and I’m gutted for my players, for the club and the supporters.
“Their goalkeeper’s come out missed the ball completely and punched our player in the face, our number 17 Scot Bennett, and nothing’s given.
“Then the referee has seen a foul, a so-called foul, which even if it was a foul was outside the box and he’s given the penalty.
🦐💥 | Morecambe have the BREAKTHROUGH!!!
The Wembley roof almost comes off as Mendes Gomes scores from the spot, but should it have been a penalty?!
📺 Morecambe against Newport is live on Sky Sports Football! pic.twitter.com/f6rbJz8pbM
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 31, 2021
“It’s two terrible decisions and I’m not going to say too much because I’m going to get fined. It’s two terrible decisions and we need VAR for these big games, something’s got to be done.”
, I want to say congratulations to Morecambe. They have had an outstanding season. Derek Adams has done a fantastic job and they have got a very good group of players who never know when they are beaten. That’s the most important thing to say at the minute.
“Where it went wrong, two very, very bad refereeing decisions, again, have cost us at Wembley. It [the penalty decision that led to the winner] was a terrible decision.
“If there was contact, it was outside the box and he has made the most of it. How we weren’t given the one in the first half, where the goalkeeper has punched our player in the head…
“I want to concentrate on [giving my] congratulations to Morecambe and how proud I am of my players and staff for the season they have had this year and the way they have conducted themselves.
“I’m just gutted for those fans who have had to see their team on the wrong side of bad decisions again at Wembley.”
