Graham Westley admits his Newport County team must win eight or nine of their remaining 13 League Two fixtures if they are to save their Football League lives.
The Exiles have earned only five victories from the 33 matches played so far, but have to transform that record to have any chance of avoiding the plunge into non-League.
“We know that to stay up, we probably need 24, 25, 26 points out of a possible 39,” says manager Westley. “We have a squad that I think can win enough games and we should only get better.
“I honestly believe these lads can help us secure our League Two status.”
It is imperative that Newport start their winning run by securing three points from the home match against Leyton Orient at Rodney Parade on Saturday (3pm).
Orient are the team immediately above them in the table, but Newport must look last them to see the safety mark they need to achieve.
They are nine points from safety, albeit with a game in hand.
Some fans yelled verbal abuse at Westley after the 2-1 defeat at Mansfield Townm but he says: “I wasn’t bothered. I’ve had fans berate me at games, I have had fans coin me at games, I have had square ups with fans at different clubs.
“As manager, it’s my job to take flak.”
“Passion is a part of football. I let people say what they want to say and if they think I am to blame they can say so.”
Newport face a major battle to save themselves, while visitors Orient appear in turmoil on and off the pitch.
The London club have been issued with a winding-up petition which could lead to an order to take Orient into extinction.
They are due in the High Court on Monday, March 20 over an unpaid tax bill said to be in the region if £250,000.
Former club owner Barry Hearn, the World snooker chairman who attended his first Orient match at the age of 11, has said: “It’s just been a catalogue of disasters culminating in this news, which is horrible.
“Thank goodness I kept the ground because, otherwise, goodness knows what’d happen?
“Had we all known how it was going to go, we wouldn’t have done the deal – no question.
“I am fearful for the future.”
Orient have had a succession of managers since Russell Slade left them to take over at Cardiff City three years ago. Kevin Nugent, Fabio Liverani, Ian Hendon, Andy Hessenthaler, Alberto Cavasin, Andy Edwards and Dan Webb, the current team boss, have been in charge.
League Two table – bottom seven only
All teams play 46 matches – two will be relegated
Pl GD Pts
18 Cheltenham Town 34 -18 38
19 Notts County 34 -20 37
20 Crewe Alexandra 34 -20 37
21 Accrington Stanley 32 -10 35
22 Hartlepool 34 -15 35
23 Leyton Orient 34 -19 29
24 Newport County 33 -16 26
Saturday fixtures involving bottom seven teams: Accrington Stanley v Barnet, Cheltenham Town v Mansfield Town, Hartlepool United v Exeter City, Newport County v Leyton Orient, Portsmouth v Crewe Alexandria, Stevenage v Notts County.
Newport County’s remaining fixtures (13)
March
Saturday 4 v Leyton Orient (home)
Saturday 11 v Crewe (away)
Tuesday 14 v Morecambe (away)
Saturday 18 v Blackpool (home)
Tuesday 21 v Luton (home)
Saturday 25 v Portsmouth (away)
April
Saturday 1 v Crawley Town (way)
Saturday 8 v Exeter City (away)
Friday 14 v Yeovil Town (home)
Monday 17 v Plymouth Argyle (away)
Saturday 22 v Accrington Stanley (home)
Saturday 29 v Carlisle United (away)
May
Saturday 6 v Notts County (home)
