FORMER Barry Town manager Gary Barnett is the bookies favourite to become the next manager of Newport County, and the Argus can reveal that he has already applied for the job.

Barnett, who won four successive Welsh Premier League titles with Barry before assisting Jan Molby in his stints at Kidderminster Harriers and Hull City, has been priced as 6-4 favourite by Ladbrokes.

The next best priced candidate is Cwmbran skipper Jason Perry, a 7-2 shot, with former Merthyr boss John Relish at 9-2 and ex-Wales international Mark Aizlewood at 5-1.

Barnett, who left Conference outfit Kidderminster six weeks ago, is currently working as a sports masseur/fitness instructor, but is desperate to get back into management and believes Newport County are the ideal club.

He explained: "As soon as I heard that the job was available I knew I would have to apply straight away because it's a fantastic challenge.

"This is the first time for a long time that I have not been involved with a football club and I'm finding it quite hard.

"In the past County have had some fantastic non-League jobs that is sure to attract big names and quality managers.

"I haven't been in direct contact with the club but I have sent them my CV, because I'd love the challenge of reversing the fortunes of such a great club and feel I could really do something with the club.

Barnett's interest in the post is sure to please County supporters, whose main criticism of previous manager John Cornforth was that he didn't have enough knowledge of either non-League or Welsh football.

But Barnett, who enjoyed a thrilling spell as Barry boss between 1995 and 1999, in which they won four league titles, four cups and enjoyed a successful UEFA cup campaign, is well versed in the ways of Welsh football and has extensive non-league contacts after two separate spells with Kidderminster.

"I am used to how Welsh football works, after my time at Barry and also understand how to get teams up the non-League pyramid on a budget, because that is what Jan Molby and I did at Kidderminster," he said.

"Jan was a great bloke to work with, he demands respect because of all he's achieved in the game and you can only really learn by working with him, he certainly taught me a few things.

"I think I could really do something at County, but whether they see it that way or not is another matter."

County director Colin Everett would not be drawn on individual candidates, but admitted that the search for a new manager had begun.

He said: "We are looking to make an appointment within a fortnight but it needs to be the right one.

"We have a list of attributes and criteria that we will be looking for, but we are welcoming applications and definitely don't feel any need to advertise the position."