MANAGER Michael Flynn is set to end his four-year reign at Newport County AFC in League Two.

The 40-year-old from Pill has been at the helm since 2017 and has a contract that runs through until the end of the season.

Flynn said he needed to consider his future after the agonising play-off final defeat to Morecambe in May but stayed on to start the new campaign, bringing in 15 players in a busy recruitment drive.

However, the Argus understands that the manager will not finish the season and that his assistant Wayne Hatswell is taking the reins.

UPDATE: County confirm Flynn exit

County have made a steady start to the season but Flynn has been frustrated by their inconsistency, furious after the performances in defeat to Northampton and Barrow.

Those losses sandwiched a fine display in beating Walsall and led to the boss saying: “I don't want to keep having reactions. I want to put a run together.”

The manager has also been angered at the club’s training facilities after having to prepare for games at Undy AFC and Caerleon AFC rather than their Spytty Park base, which is soon to be used by Newport RFC.

South Wales Argus: MIRACLE: Michael Flynn after County avoided the drop in 2017MIRACLE: Michael Flynn after County avoided the drop in 2017

Flynn, who had three spells as a player with the Exiles, spearheaded County’s great escape from relegation in 2017 when they were 11 points adrift with 12 games to go.

He came agonisingly close to earning the club promotion to the third tier of English football for the first time since 1987 only to suffer controversial play-off final defeats to Tranmere in 2019 and Morecambe last season.

Flynn’s teams combined strong league performances with cup exploits that brought much-needed income into the club.

In 2018 they knocked out Championship club Leeds to earn an FA Cup tie with Tottenham Hotspur, with Harry Kane’s late equaliser denying County a famous win but leading to a lucrative replay at Wembley.

The following year the Exiles knocked out Leicester and Middlesbrough for a clash with Manchester City in Newport, with Pep Guardiola’s superstars winning 4-1.

Last season County beat Swansea and Watford in the League Cup before being knocked out on penalties by Newcastle, then they suffered a shootout defeat to Brighton in the FA Cup.

The campaign ended in controversy against Morecambe – with the Exiles denied one clear penalty before the solitary goal came from a disputed one – and Flynn failed to get the promotion he craved for his hometown club.