Three former Cardiff City coaches and a Welshman are battling for Football League survival.
Dave Jones and Kevin Cooper, who were both with the Bluebirds, are going head-to-head with Newport-born Mike Flynn and ex-Cardiff manager Lennie Lawrence.
Jones and Cooper are in charge at Hartlepool United, who are one point in front of Newport County in League Two, while Flynn and Lawrence are working together for the Exiles.
One of the two clubs look certain to be relegated and one will stay up.
Leyton Orient, in last place, appear to be doomed and they will be joined in non-League football by Newport or Hartlepool.
Flynn has masterminded a County revival which has seen his team earn 16 points from a possible 27, five wins from nine matches.
Newport were 11 points from safety when Flynn took over from Graham Westley and now they are one point adrift with three fixtures left.
Flynn’s men are at home against Accrington Stanley on Saturday, while Hartlepool travel to Orient.
“Being a manager is something I’ve always wanted to do,” says Flynn. “I learned a lot off Graham, I learned stuff off Warren Feeney, John Sheridan and other managers I’ve had throughout my career – Paul Jewell, Peter Taylor.
“I’ve learned good things, bad things and I’ve got to put them together but still be my own man.
“I’ve got a good team around me with Wayne (Hatswell) and Lennie, but I’ve still got to be the way I want to be because otherwise the players will see through you and know you’re just putting on an act.
“I know what winning looks and feels like and I’m just trying to rub that off on the boys.
“And they’ve responded. There are a lot of winners in that dressing room.
“They might be down towards the bottom of the Football League, but we have a good few who should be playing higher.”
League Two table – bottom three only, two will be relegated
All teams play 46 matches
Pl GD Pts
22 Hartlepool United 43 -19 43
23 Newport County 43 -23 42
24 Leyton Orient 43 -33 36
Remaining fixtures:
Newport: v Plymouth (away), Accrington (home), Carlisle (away), Notts County (home).
Hartlepool: Orient (away), Barnet (home), Cheltenham (away), Doncaster (home).
