HOW magnanimous are Gwent football fans, be you County or glory orientated, prepared to be about the Championship playoffs then?

Whether you’re one of the several billion Manchester United or Liverpool fans dotted round the county, or indeed, fans of the County, are you inclined to support the notion of Premier League football for a Welsh side, whoever it may be, or will you be a passionate Reading or Nottingham Forest fan for the next week?

And if you’re a fan of the egg, detest football and couldn’t care less, does it concern you that a Premier League football side will further the transition Wales are undergoing from a rugby to football obsessed nation?

The Ospreys and the Cardiff Blues already struggle hugely with crowds in comparison with their football counterparts (both attracting around 50% of the football crowd on average), with Premier League football certain to further the gap to a relative abyss.

We have no such worries here for the time being with Newport Gwent Dragons comfortably ahead of the Exiles for attendances, though not even staunch Rodney Parade die-hards would expect that to remain the case if County made the Football League.

It’s a tough call I would have thought for a lot of you and I personally will be rooting for a Welsh side to go up, simply for the galvanising effect it will have on football in Wales full stop.

There are already more little Johnny’s playing football than rugby in the Principality and the likes of Manchester United et al heading over the bridge on a weekly basis only further increases the interest here in the beautiful game.

I once wrote a column strongly rejecting the notion that Cardiff City winning the FA Cup was good for Welsh football as a whole, because in my opinion that one off occasion would only have benefited the Bluebirds.

However, a full season of Premier League football would be a fillip and I will be hoping for an all-Welsh final, the absolute nightmare on every single London copper.

However, picking a winner is a lot tougher a task (though not for Newport ‘anyone but Cardiff’ County fans) and I see no reason to play favourites here.

But if you want a pure Cinderella story, then a Swansea promotion is certainly the more romantic tale with Cardiff having spent far more in their pursuit of dining at the top table.

Football is never more dramatic than at playoff time and I can’t wait for it to all start tonight. But the question is how do you feel about it?

A couple of men deserve recognition this week, but first off, some of my favourite Welsh sportsman are also worthy of hearty congratulations.

Firstly, of course, a big thumbs up to the returning Gavin Henson. Henson is big box office; a great talent and the WRU are spot on in recognising that. Ahead of the World Cup Wales are holding out for a hero and Gavin can be him.

On a similar note, it’s great news for Gary Speed that Gwent’s Jack Collison is returning to his ranks and is fit and raring to go after a 14-month layoff. Followers of Collison on Twitter will know how tough the road back for him has been and here’s hoping for a good run of fitness for him, even if it is likely to be in the Championship.

And to Phillip Price, the nicest man in golf, congratulations on finishing fifth in the Spanish Open, his best European Tour showing in recent memory. Hopefully an Indian Summer awaits.

And one more, though not a Gwentie, but arguably my favourite Welsh footballer of all time.

A massive congratulations to the evergreen, ever young, ever brilliant Jason Bowen who continues to dazzle crowds and win games on his own aged 37.

Jason just added the Welsh Cup to his CV after Llanelli smashed WPL champions Bangor 4-1 and Bowen ran the show.

County boss Anthony Hudson was there, and call me a dreamer but nothing would please me more as a County correspondent than seeing the fifth Beatle returning to Spytty Park in a player/coach capacity. Or how about a move to Stoke? Of course, good luck too to Tony Pulis this Saturday.

To finish I must address not one but two Gwent retirements in the past fortnight, from two genuine nice guys.

It’s always unfortunate when a sportsman is forced to call it a day, particularly when they are at an age where they still have plenty to give.

At 29 and as one of the true good guys in Welsh sport, it’s with a heavy heart that Glamorgan have had to wave goodbye to the playing career of David Harrison, who retired last Friday.

Dave has been a top class player in the County Championship, on the fringes of the England squad in his mid 20s but hampered by injuries since.

The Argus columnist is remaining incredibly upbeat despite his career being ended by injury and not on his own terms, looking forward to ingratiating himself among the coaching staff at Sophia Gardens.

His fellow Gwentie Mark Wallace reports of Harrison delivering an emotional speech in informing his teammates, but he was quick to remind them it’s a short career and not to take anything for granted.

Wise words from a good guy who will continue his Argus column and I have no doubt, will try his hand at anything as he seems to relish a challenge.

Because it’s a little known fact that Harrison is the most multi-talented sportsman you can meet.

Attending a boxing show at the Newport Centre in 2009 my ticket was distributed to me by said pace ace, as was the microphone in a busy Ryder Cup press conference last October. He’s a media darling!

Both Harrison and his father were on Ryder Cup duty in the media centre and seemed to relish the opportunity.

I have little doubt Dave will continue to adopt that love of new ventures and can make a big success of his premature retirement.

As will another nice guy who in this instance has hung up his gloves, Cwmbran’s Commonwealth gold medallist and professional boxing champion Jamie Arthur.

Differing circumstances for sure with Arthur bowing out of his own volition, having made absolutely the right decision after a comeback that was an unqualified success.

After winning Commonwealth Games gold Arthur was hot property and started his professional career with real fanfare, which was too much for him, he went on a losing run, was miserable and had quit the sport aged just 25.

However, a more mature, settled and family orientated Arthur returned to the sport after a three-year hiatus and hasn’t looked back since.

He’s competed in Prizefighter, twice challenged for a British title and earned the Commonwealth crown in a busy few years.

Jamie’s hard work and dedication to training make him a shining example to any young boxer and his desire and durability led to a very good professional career despite not having the abilities of a Joe Calzaghe or Nathan Cleverly.

At just 31 Arthur could easily box on for years, but he’s prefers to focus on his family and a route of training other fighters, leaving the sport with no regrets and on his terms. If only more boxers could do the same.