By Terry Phillips
Michael Flynn will be appointed permanent Newport County manager this week.
Flynn kept his home city club in the Football League against all the odds and Gavin Foxall, club chairman of operations, says he did a ‘phenomenal job’.
County maintained their League Two status on a dramatic final day of the season when defender Mark O’Brien smashed home an 89th minute winner.
“It’s absolutely incredible,” said Foxall. “I would have thought it would be very difficult for any of the directors to walk around Newport if Michael didn’t get the job.
“We all know Michael Flynn is Newport through and through and he has done a phenomenal job.
“His enthusiasm is infectious and you can see that in the way he’s lifted the lads and the way they’ve played since the Crewe game.
“They are a brilliant set of lads and I can’t speak highly enough of Michael. The job he’s done is fantastic.
“He is a Newport boy through and through and he has done a phenomenal job.
“Newport came out and supported the club and to be sold out was unbelievable.
“I suspect we will be making an announcement this week.”
Newport’s success means Hartlepool United will be playing non-League football next season, going down along with Leyton Orient.
Flynn’s appointment will be confirmed quickly, giving him the chance to start building his 2017-18 squad.
A sell-out attendance of 7,500 spectators were at Rodney Parade for Newport’s 2-1 win against Notts County to witness the club’s Great Escape.
Flynn, 36, worked alongside former Cardiff City manager Lennie Lawrence and assistant manager Wayne Hatswell to save Newport and home players, fans and management celebrated wildly after the final whistle.
They were 11 points from safety when Flynn took over from manager Graham Westley and have won seven times in 12 fixtures under his leadership.
Flynn has made it clear he would love to be appointed long-term manager of Newport, although he didn’t want to talk about his future with directors until the season ended.
Foxall has already held initial talks with Flynn about staying in charge and more are planned this week.
He will put player recruitment plans into action as soon as he is given the go-ahead over the next few days and there is no doubt many will be keen to stay.
The team bonded superbly under Flynn and Irish centre-back O’Brien tweeted: “Words cannot describe what I am feeling right now … To score a goal, be safe from relegation, the fans and the club have been amazing.”
Mickey Demetriou, who scored Newport’s first goal from a 32nd minute penalty, tweeted: “What a way to finish the season. Absolutely buzzing for all the players,staff and fans. Unbelievable scenes at the end.”
Daniel Butler said: “If Carlsberg did great escapes . . . What an achievement from everyone.”
Tom Owen-Evans underlined his feelings, saying: “No words can describe this feeling. 15 points behind Hartlepool not long ago. Everyone had written us off. We made the impossible possible.”
Former Newport manager and director of football Tim Harris joined in the plaudits with the words: “Unbelievable scenes at Rodney Parade. So pleased for everyone especially the miracle worker @flynnster17 huge. Congratulations Michael.”
