NEWPORT County boss Jimmy Dack has paid a glowing tribute to the Amber Army who backed him and previous boss Justin Edinburgh, admitting he’s already feeling tearful with nostalgia, writes Michael Pearlman.

Dack will bring the curtain down on nearly four years with Newport on Saturday when Oxford visit Rodney Parade having opted not to be considered for the managerial role on a permanent basis.

Dack would appear to have reservations about his ability to continue progressing the club, but insists the memories he’s created will stay with him forever more.

Looking back on his time, Dack clearly struggled to pick the greatest moments, other than the ones at Wembley.

“Highlights? Wembley will live with me forever and is the pivotal moment, I still think about it every day of my life,” he said.

“When I think about those grown men, women and children in that stand crying, that will live with me forever. And I hope to God I can replicate that feeling again, because you can’t buy that sort of stuff, it’s just unbelievable.

“That’s a great moment for me, taking Newport back into the Football League.

“The FA Trophy was big, I learned how to prepare properly going to Wembley and the next time we went there for the play-off final, we put that into practice, we weren’t just there to be tourists and take pictures.

“It was a big learning moment for myself.

“Going to Brighton away and beating them in the cup, a fantastic moment spoiled by us missing one of the best players I’ve seen at this football club, Byron Anthony.

“It was spoiled by that, but as a day for the club was fantastic.

“The thing that got away from us was a good run in the FA Cup, that was the one thing we didn’t do well enough, but we never got too lucky with the draws.

“We’ve had some fantastic results home and away in the last two seasons, fantastic times and the list is endless.”

Dack found it a lot easier to express his feelings about departing.

“My parting message is thank you for everything,” he said, voice wavering.

“I get choked thinking about it. Thanks to the staff, supporters, the board and the press guys as well.

“It has been a pleasure, it really has.”