WHAT a chance squandered by Newport County. Glory, prestige, financial rewards and a chance to play against the best teams in the land gone with one disappointing defeat. But that’s enough about the Gwent Senior Cup.

I am kidding of course. I hope your sides didn’t split. I was referencing the FA Cup defeat at Paulton.

Seriously though, there is plenty to talk about what with County and another football team you guys used to care about, called Wales.

In the interests of fairness, we’ll start with County, especially as this column was written before Wales played Liechtenstein last night and perhaps rescued the worst campaign imaginable with a cricket score victory. Though somehow I doubt it.

The Exiles, as you all know, were spanked on the bottom and given an almighty reality check last weekend, beaten in the FA Cup – and by all accounts deservedly so – against lowly Paulton Rovers.

Credit to all supporters looking on the bright side and maintaining it will help in the league in the long run, that sort of positivity has been missing from Spytty Park and I like the attitude.

I don’t agree with it though, I think going out of the FA Cup is a big blow. I don’t see how a competition as brilliant as the FA Cup could possibly be seen as a distraction, it’s far more a money-spinner and chance to test yourself against better sides. The Exiles dropped the ball last Saturday, for me, at least, it’s a real shame and I am encouraged by the reaction of Dean Holdsworth and Tim Harris, who seem intent on getting their Christmas shopping done early.

They’ve picked a good time to strengthen the squad and from what I understand, they’re not done yet, though I am sworn to secrecy and don’t want to be lynched by Dean and Tim for shouting my big mouth off.

However, we do know that it’s been three in and one out so far, though Dave Gilroy looks set for a short-term loan to Weston today, as has been mentioned on the County messageboards (he will return though, hopefully with his confidence restored).

The signings all make sense on paper, Ashan Holgate a versatile midfielder with a good pedigree, hopefully adding some flair to the County midfield, especially as he can play right across it, one of the few genuinely two-footed players I can recall seeing at this level of football. He is also a big lad, County increasingly a threat from set-pieces, the total opposite to our fears at the start of the campaign when we thought they’d be too lightweight.

Youngster Kerry Morgan also arrives, on loan from Swansea where he will continue to train full-time, and he joins for three months with a good pedigree, described as being incredibly quick and adept on the flanks as well as in attack by a friend of mine who covers the Swans.

And finally, there is Alton Thelwell, a player I will do my best not to wax lyrical about given his Tottenham connection.

Desperately unlucky with injuries, Thelwell was a top prospect at White Hart Lane, I remember his debut when he absolutely shone in a 2-1 victory over Liverpool, though I have less fond memories of his appearance in the FA Cup semi-final, when Spurs were smashed out of sight by Arsenal and Sol Campbell wore a Spurs kit for the last time.

But enough of the secret diary of Michael Pearlman, back to the County, and like I say, on paper the Exiles have made three shrewd signings, especially as Thelwell is said to be well ahead of where he was expected to be in terms of his fitness.

It’s a shame that County have waved goodbye to Kevin Cooper, I was a big fan of his and believed he had something to offer this term, though I am certain he’d be the first to say he’s not been as effective as he could have been.

So it’s a case of onwards and upwards and we must remember that good sides react in the right way to setbacks and County must do just that, protecting their 19 game unbeaten run in the Blue Square South and, hopefully, extending their lead at the top of it.

Sadly though, while one can remain upbeat about County despite a setback, the same can not be said for Wales.

They’ve become a total and utter embarrassment and I will reiterate my stance once again, John Toshack must go.

He has failed in five years to take Wales forward and now by his own admission they are going backwards.

He has been unlucky with injuries, without question, but is to blame for the continuously changing and negative tactics, huge number of retirements and seeming lack of spirit in the squad.

How many of Toshack’s young guns have come out in his defence? None. How many of the players that have retired have been in contact with him since? None. All signs are that he has lost the dressing room.

It would appear he struggles to relate to or motivate his players, the second half performance in Finland absolutely shameful, no pride, and no passion. The Finland games were the defining ones in this campaign and Toshack’s side was rotten to the core in both.

Attendances for Wales’ qualifiers are a national embarrassment and the football following public seem to be utterly disenfranchised, more so than ever before, bigger attendances achieved under Bobby Gould.

There can be no more excuses for a man who said judge me on the last two campaigns. It’s time to judge and unfortunately (bearing in mind Toshack is a Welsh footballing great and a thoroughly decent person) the verdict is failure.

He moans about a lack of consistency in his squad, yet he’s handed out 38 debuts in five years. He talks of not having enough resources, but he’s used 27 players in this campaign alone (that’s before last night).

Toshack hates comparisons to Northern Ireland, but they stand up in every regard. They punch above their weight, the players are desperate to play for their country and they remained competitive for far longer than Wales with much, much less quality in their squad. Not just in this campaign either.

Wales are now by a distance the worst British national side.

There are ten months until Wales play another competitive fixture, a chance to take stock, reassess the players available (just watch the Danny Collins’s and Jason Koumas’s of this world reverse their retirements when Toshack goes) and there can be only one decision from the chiefs at the FAW.

They made a massive mistake in extending Toshack’s contract and they must act now to rectify the error.

Having never beaten a side not in the category of ‘minnows’ (save for a 5-2 win in Slovakia, in a dead-rubber having lost 5-1 at home in a game that mattered) in a competitive fixture, Toshack absolutely must go. The sooner the better.