Mark O’Brien has become the second Newport County player in little more than a year to retire because of heart problems. The County captain – a goalscoring hero from the Great Escape season three years ago – has been forced to end his playing days on medical advice at the age of 27. O’Brien has been told he requires surgery and follows Fraser Franks into retirement after Franks was advised to quit in March 2017.

Newport County plan to inform fans this week about refunds for this season after Leagues One and Two were brought to a premature end. The club have issued a statement saying they will soon reveal intentions for dealing with season ticket holders for the current 2019-20 season as well as those who have bought individual match tickets. They will also update on details over which players are being retained for next season as well as plans for a new kit supplier for the new campaign, which may not begin until September and is still likely to involve no fans.

Newport County and other struggling clubs in Leagues One and Two have been told that football must solve their financial crisis – not the government. With the rest of the season already written off and no prospect of any more gate income until August at the earliest, County and other clubs in the lower two divisions have raised the alarm. Calls have been made for a state-backed plan to help English Football League clubs avoid insolvency in the current coronavirus pandemic.

Lennie Lawrence will remain a “very valued friend” to Newport County manager Mike Flynn after the club confirmed their assistant was leaving to join Stevenage. Lawrence, 72, has been at Rodney Parade for three years and forged an immediate bond with Flynn as both worked to pull off the great escape of keeping Newport in the Football League in 2017. But the veteran coach has remained based in the south-east of England and has now chosen to join Stevenage as No.2 to manager Alex Revell – with his start date likely to be the beginning of the 2020-21 season.

Newport County and other League One and Two clubs have been told to expect their season will soon be declared over. The prediction has come from Salford co-owner Gary Neville, who says he is “99 per cent certain” that his club, County and others in League Two will soon be forced to abandon the current campaign. On Friday morning The Athletic reported that the EFL will tell clubs in League One and League Two there is no chance of playing any more games and ask them to vote on a method to decide promotion and relegation.

Cardiff City, Swansea City and Newport County should learn more about plans to re-start the football season after talks on Tuesday. The Football League clubs are scheduled to hold a conference call and plans for the resolution of the season are expected to be discussed, with reports suggesting some League Two clubs are ready to pull the plug on the campaign. The EFL told its member clubs earlier this month to prepare for the season to be completed in 56 days behind closed doors once it was deemed safe for a restart following the coronavirus lockdown.

Gary Neville fears there is a “serious problem brewing” for players in the Football League coming towards the end of their contracts – despite an agreement over wage reductions at clubs like Newport County. Neville fears that the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic is such that players whose current deals finish at the end of June will struggle to find new clubs. “There is a serious problem brewing in the next few months. Over 1,000 players in the Championship, League One and League Two are out of contract at the end of June and clubs haven’t got the money to recycle them back into the game,” Neville told Sky Sports News’ Football Show.

Former Cardiff City and Swansea City winger – and ex-manager of Newport County – Warren Feeney has revealed he is locked down in Bulgaria and away from his family. Feeney – who is currently manager of Bulgarian second division side Pirin Blagoevgrad – stayed in his job when the chance to leave was still open last month. So, while his wife and children are in the UK, Feeney has been helping his local community and trying to ensure players stay fit and healthy.

Michael Flynn has admitted Newport County are pulling the rug from under themselves as they continue to stumble in League Two. The County manager was in downcast mood as he suggested sloppiness was undermining his team’s efforts after they lost 2-0 at Carlisle on Tuesday night. It was Newport’s sixth successive away defeat as they conceded two first-half goals and spent the whole of the second half with only 10 men after Ryan Inniss was sent-off.

Former Newport County and Cardiff City striker Matt Green fell out with manager Ian Holloway before Grimsby played the Exiles at Blundell Park. Green, who started his senior playing career with County, and Swedish player Ludvig Öhman were both axed from the starting line-up by Holloway. “Two of my lads ruined my plans because they […]

Michael Flynn has wrapped a protective arm around Newport County’s Ryan Innis after the defender’s missed penalty denied the club another trip to Wembley. Innis’s spot kick was saved during a sudden death shoot-out against Salford in the Leasing.com Trophy semi-final clash. County were bidding to reach Wembley for the fifth time in eight years, but when the tie at their opponents’ Peninsula Stadium finished goalless after 90 minutes, it was Salford who won 6-5 on penalties following Innis’s miss.

Irish goals ace Padraig Amond is aiming to complete a half century for Newport County this evening and lead them back to Wembley Stadium. Amond, from Carlow in the Republic of Ireland, goes into County’s Leasing.Com Trophy semi-final against Salford City at Rodney Parade having scored 49 goals for the Welsh club. Newport are aiming […]