DEPARTING Newport County AFC manager Jimmy Dack has revealed that he was offered the chance to succeed his friend Justin Edinburgh on a permanent basis but he decided to move on.
The club confirmed last night that former number two Dack would not be staying at Rodney Parade beyond Saturday’s final League Two fixture of the season against Oxford United.
Terry Butcher and Mark Yates are the names in the frame to fill the Rodney Parade hot seat but Dack, who took over on a temporary basis after Edinburgh left for Gillingham in February, insists he could have stayed in charge if he’d wanted to.
“I was offered the job but what’s gone on between [director] Howard Greenhaf and myself is personal between us,” said Dack at this afternoon’s press conference.
“The offer was there for me but I just felt it was the right decision to move on.
“I’ve had four fantastic seasons at this football club and I’ve given my all in every season I’ve been here.
“I just feel that the time is right now for me to pass the baton on for someone else to take the club forward, as we’ve done in the last four years.
“When I came here we were second from bottom in the Conference and four years later we’re eighth or ninth in League Two.
“So I think we’ve done a good job here and it’s time for someone to take it further.”
Dack would not be drawn on who he believes will succeed him at County but he says the tools are there for another promotion push next season, despite a reduced budget.
“I think the successor will know what job he’s taking and he’ll be prepared for it,” said Dack.
“If he can keep this group together then you’ve got a group of players who are not a million miles away.
“If results go our way on Saturday we’ll have missed out on the play-offs on goal difference.
“I don’t think it needs wholesale changes,” he added.
“It’s not rocket science; we need two others who can score goals along with Aaron O’Connor – that’s what we’ve been short of.
“But if you can keep that group together you’ve got an established group of players that want to play for each other.
“They’re honest, hard working and a joy to work with.
“My message to my successor is keep progressing the club because that’s what we’ve done for the last four years,” he added.
“It’s a good club with good people willing to work hard and try to get this club in League One – I think that’s got to be the aim for this club next season.
“Everyone knows the two names that have been bandied about and we’ll find out if they’re successful at the end of next season.
“I wish them all the best; it’s a good job and a great club to work for.
“It’s a club that’s moving forward, as it has done for the last four years.”
As for his own future, Dack denies that he will be reunited with Edinburgh at Gillingham in the short term.
“Everyone’s put two and two together and come up with five but that’s not the case,” he said of the Gills link.
“Justin and I are good friends, there’s no doubt about it.
“Sometimes circumstances are different but as things stand a lot of people will be speculating but I’ve not got a job to go to.
“My wife’s not too happy about it because I’ve got to pay bills but that’s life. Sometimes you’ve got to make decisions in life and it might be costly but it might work out for me.
“I’ve always been honest with everyone at this football club and, as it stands right now, I haven’t got another job.”
Could he move to become a manager elsewhere?
“Yes, that could be a possibility,” he said. “But I would be a number two elsewhere as well.”
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