Ex-boss Michael Flynn helping Newport bid to beat Bradford

The Exiles are on the hunt for a new boss for the first time since 2017 after last week’s sudden departure of Flynn.

Sporting director Darren Kelly is leading the search but has pledged to take his time with Hatswell seen as a safe pair of hands.

The 46-year-old, who has been hugely influential in the Exiles’ rise from relegation candidates to promotion contenders as Flynn’s assistant, got the new era off to a winning start with a 3-0 win over Scunthorpe last weekend.

He spearheads the bid for successive League Two wins for the first time this season when Bradford City are welcomed to Rodney Parade and Flynn, a former Bantam, remains an influence.

DUO: Michael Flynn and Wayne Hatswell

“I’d be naïve not to [use help], it’s a tough job and I can’t do it on my own,” said Hatswell. “I’ve been speaking to the gaffer daily, it’s not like that we’ve broken up, divorced and he never wants to speak to me again.

“He wants to help me and doesn’t want the club to fail, and fundamentally that’s what we are paid to do.

“I am old school in that with standards to be met whether it’s the staff, players, the reverend who comes in to say hello, the doctor, whoever.

“There are standards here that need to be kept. The staff have been with us a long time and know what to expect and to look out for anything that might go wrong.

“They are here to help and I have leaned on everyone. It’s probably been no different to my role before, I was assistant manager but was hands-on.

“I did the McDonalds run this morning and that hasn’t changed to keep the staff happy – we had the works!”

Hatswell is interim manager but will not be throwing his hat into the ring even if County climb the table.

Wayne Hatswell calling the shots against Scunthorpe

“I’ve always said that I am more of an on the grass kind of guy. I excel at that and it would take a hell of a lot for me to become a manager,” he said.

“I am not doubting my own ability, I just don’t want to deal with all the politics that goes with it.

“I am quite a hands-on person, I interact with players well and study what we do, analyse what we do. I’ve always been a coach and those are my strengths.

“When circumstances arise and you have to step up, I am more than capable but long-term it’s not something that I want to do.

“Weirdly, I don’t judge football long term, I don’t look too far ahead, only three or four weeks. A manager probably looks long term.”

Hatswell is under the contract until the end of the season and is open to the idea of staying at the club once the hierarchy pick the new boss.

“My contract was in line with the gaffer and maybe discussions will have to take place about whether that was to carry on,” he said.

“I have been here a long time, something like 10 years over two stints, maybe I am due a testimonial!

“I haven’t got a crystal ball, whoever comes in may want to bring in their own man, they may not. The club have said that they want me to stay and I am contracted to do that.

“You always say that you are six games from the sack. In six games it could be said ‘thank god there are new people coming’ because that is how fickle football can be.”