List of Newport County A.F.C. managers

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Newport County is a Welsh professional Association football club based in the city of Newport, Wales. The club was founded in 1912 as The Newport & Monmouth County Association Football Club, [1] nicknamed The Ironsides after the Lysaght's Orb Works in the town. The club began in the Southern League but was reformed in 1919 [2] and elected into the Football League in 1920. [2] The first manager of Newport County was Davy McDougall, appointed in 1912. [3]

Contents

The club's current manager, its 52nd, is Graham Coughlan, appointed on 20 October 2022.

History

Newport's first ever manager, the Scottish wing-half McDougall, played for the club as in its first year as a player-manager before moving to management. [3] Billy Lucas is the club's longest serving manager having spent 17 years at Newport across three spells from 1953 to 1961, 1962–1967, and 1970–1974. [3] Jimmy Hindmarsh is the club's longest continuously serving manager having spent 13 years at the club from 1922 until 1935. [3] Newport's shortest reigning manager is Lee Harrison, who spent 5 days in charge as caretaker manager in 2011. [4] The club's shortest reigning permanent manager is Eddie May who spent one month at the club during its tumultuous 1988 season. [5]

Four managers have returned to the club for more than one spell in charge: Billy Lucas (1953–61, 1962–67, 1970–74), Colin Addison (1977–78, 1982–85), John Relish (1986, 1989–1993), and Tim Harris (1997–2002, 2011). [3]

The club's most successful manager for honours is Len Ashurst who achieved promotion and a Cup win at the club. [6] However Peter Beadle also achieved Cup wins [7] and runner-up places, and Justin Edinburgh achieved a division play off victory and Cup runner-up place. [8]

Only two County managers, John Relish and Justin Edinburgh, have been inducted into the club's Hall of Fame. [9] Edinburgh was posthumously inducted in December 2019 before a fixture between Newport and Leyton Orient, who he was manager of at the time of his unexpected death in June 2019. [10]

Achievements

Newport County A.F.C. managerial timeline Timeline of Newport County A.F.C. managers.jpg
Newport County A.F.C. managerial timeline

The first manager under whom Newport won a major trophy was Billy McCandless, who guided the club to the Third Division South championship in the 1938–39 season. Newport reached the fifth round of the 1948–49 FA Cup under manager Tom Bromilow, the furthest they have gone in the competition, later equalled in 2019. They only narrowly lost the game 3–2 to Portsmouth. [11] Bobby Evans led the club to become runners-up in the 1963 Welsh Cup. Len Ashurst achieved a third place promotion in the 1979–80 Football League Fourth Division and the club became Welsh Cup champions in 1980 under Ashhurst. In 1987 under John Lewis the club were runners-up in the Welsh Cup, losing to Merthyr in the final.

In 1989–90 John Relish secured the Hellenic League championship. Graham Rogers achieved the 1994–1995 Southern League Midland Division championship. Tim Harris again achieved the 2nd place promotion spot in the 1998–1999 Southern League Midland Division season. Peter Nicholas led the club to the runners-up spot in the 2003 FAW Premier Cup, which the club again achieved under Peter Beadle in 2007, and which was followed by Newport winning the competition the following year. Dean Holdsworth led the club to become Conference South champions in 2009–2010. The club were FA Trophy runners-up in 2012 under Justin Edinburgh. Edinburgh produced the club's most recent honours in 2013 when he went on to lead the club back into the Football League, winning the Conference National play-offs against fellow Welsh opponents Wrexham.

Michael Flynn led the club to its joint best performance in the FA Cup, playing against Manchester City in the 2018–19 FA Cup 5th Round for only the second time since 1948–49. Flynn took the club to the 2019 EFL League Two play-off finals where Newport were defeated by Tranmere Rovers and reached the semi-finals of the 2019–20 EFL Trophy where Newport lost to Salford City on penalties. Flynn again led Newport to the 2021 EFL League Two play-off final, losing 1–0 to Morecambe.

List of managers

No.PictureNameNationalityContractFromToLength of tenure
1 Davy McDougall Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Manager / player-manager1 July 191230 June 19131 year
2 Sam Hollis Flag of England.svg  England Manager1 July 191330 June 19175 years
3 Harry Parkes Flag of England.svg  England Manager / player-manager1 July 191930 June 19223 years
4 Jimmy Hindmarsh Flag of England.svg  England Manager1 July 192230 June 193513 years
5 Louis Page Flag of England.svg  England Manager1 July 19359 September 19372 years, 2 months, 9 days
6 William (Billy) McCandless (1894-1955).jpg Billy McCandless Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Manager9 September 19378 April 19468 years, 7 months
7 Tom Bromilow.jpg Tom Bromilow Flag of England.svg  England Manager9 April 194630 June 19504 years, 2 months, 22 days
8 Fred Stansfield Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Manager1 July 195030 June 19533 years
9 Billy Lucas Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Manager / player-manager1 July 195330 June 19618 years
10 Bobby Evans Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Manager / player-manager1 July 196130 June 19621 year
11 Billy Lucas Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Manager / player-manager1 July 196230 June 19675 years
12 Leslie Graham Flag of England.svg  England Manager1 July 196730 June 19692 years
13 Bobby Ferguson Flag of England.svg  England Manager / player-manager1 July 196930 June 19701 year
14 Billy Lucas Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Manager / player-manager1 July 197030 June 19744 years
15 Brian Harris Flag of England.svg  England Manager1 July 197414 March 19758 months, 14 days
16 Dave Elliott Flag of England.svg  England Manager / player-manager15 March 197530 June 19761 year, 3 months, 16 days
17 Jimmy Scoular Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Manager1 July 197630 June 19771 year
18 Colin Addison Flag of England.svg  England Manager1 July 197730 June 19781 year
19 Len Ashurst Flag of England.svg  England Manager1 July 197830 June 19824 years
20 Colin Addison Flag of England.svg  England Manager1 July 198230 June 19853 years, 1 month
21 Bobby Smith Flag of England.svg  England Manager1 June 198525 March 19869 months, 25 days
22 John Relish Flag of England.svg  England Player-manager25 March 198630 June 19863 months, 6 days
23 Mullen, Jimmy (cropped).jpg Jimmy Mullen Flag of England.svg  England Player-manager1 July 19865 March 19878 months, 5 days
24 John Lewis Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Manager / player-manager5 March 19877 September 19876 months, 3 days
25 Brian Eastick Flag of England.svg  England Manager7 September 198711 March 19886 months, 5 days
26 Dave Williams Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Caretaker manager11 March 19881 August 19884 months, 22 days
27 Eddie May Flag of England.svg  England Manager1 August 198831 August 19881 month
28 John Mahoney Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Manager1 September 198830 June 198910 months
29 John Relish Flag of England.svg  England Manager / player-manager1 July 198930 June 19934 years
30 Graham Rogers Flag of England.svg  England Manager1 July 199330 June 19963 years
31 Chris Price Flag of England.svg  England Manager1 July 199630 June 19971 year
32 Tim Harris Flag of England.svg  England Manager1 July 199714 November 20025 years, 4 months, 14 days
33 Peter Nicholas Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Manager15 November 200213 September 20041 year, 9 months, 30 days
34 John Cornforth Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Manager29 September 200413 September 200511 months, 16 days
35 Glyn Jones Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Caretaker manager13 September 20059 October 200527 days
36 Peter Beadle Flag of England.svg  England Manager9 October 200527 April 20082 years, 6 months, 19 days
37 Dean Holdsworth Flag of England.svg  England Manager1 June 200811 January 20112 years, 7 months, 11 days
38 Tim Harris Flag of England.svg  England Manager11 January 20111 April 20112 months, 22 days
39 Hudson NCAFC (cropped).jpg Anthony Hudson Flag of England.svg  England Manager1 April 201128 September 20115 months, 28 days
40 Harrison, Lee (cropped).jpg Lee Harrison Flag of England.svg  England Caretaker player-manager29 September 20113 October 20115 days
41 Justin edinburgh charity (cropped).jpg Justin Edinburgh Flag of England.svg  England Manager4 October 20116 February 20153 years, 4 months, 3 days
42 Jimmy Dack Flag of England.svg  England Manager7 February 20154 May 20152 months, 28 days
43 Terry Butcher.jpg Terry Butcher Flag of England.svg  England Manager4 May 20151 October 20154 months, 28 days
44 Sheridan, John.jpg John Sheridan Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Manager5 October 201512 January 20163 months, 8 days
45 Warren Feeney.jpg Warren Feeney Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland Manager13 January 201628 September 20168 months, 16 days
46 James Bittner
Sean McCarthy 		Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Caretaker / player-manager
Caretaker manager		28 September 20167 October 201610 days
47 Graham Westley 2014.jpg Graham Westley Flag of England.svg  England Permanent7 October 20169 March 20175 months, 3 days
48 MichaelFlynn.jpg Michael Flynn Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Caretaker (9 March – 9 May 2017)
Player-manager (9 May 2017 – November 2018)

Manager (November 2018 – 1 October 2021)

9 March 20171 October 20215 years, 7 months
49 Wayne Hatswell.jpg Wayne Hatswell Flag of England.svg  England Caretaker manager1 October 202119 October 202118 days
50 James Rowberry Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Manager19 October 202110 October 202212 months
51 Darren Kelly 26-12-2007 1.jpg Darren Kelly Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland Caretaker manager10 October 202220 October 202210 days
52 Graham Coughlan.jpg Graham Coughlan Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Manager20 October 202220 June 20242 years
53 Nelson Jardim Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal Head coach16 July 202424 April 202513 months
54Dafydd WilliamsFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Caretaker head coach25 April 20259 May 20254 months
55 David Hughes Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Manager23 May 20253 months

Managers with honours

NameNationalityFromToHonours
Justin EdinburghFlag of England.svg  England 4 October 20116 February 2015 2013 Conference Premier play-off final winners, 2012 FA Trophy Final runners-up
Dean HoldsworthFlag of England.svg  England 1 June 200811 January 2011 Conference South Champions
Peter BeadleFlag of England.svg  England 9 October 200527 April 2008 2007–08 FAW Premier Cup winners, 2006–07 FAW Premier Cup runners-up
Peter NicholasFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 15 November 200213 September 2004 2002–03 FAW Premier Cup runners-up
Graham RogersFlag of England.svg  England 1 July 199330 June 1996 Southern Football League, Midland Division second place promotion
John RelishFlag of England.svg  England 1 July 198930 June 1993 Hellenic League Premier Champions
John LewisFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 5 March 19877 September 1987 1986–87 Welsh Cup runners-up
Len AshurstFlag of England.svg  England 1 July 197830 June 19821979–80 Football League Fourth Division third place promotion

1979–80 Welsh Cup Champions

Bobby EvansFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1 July 196130 June 1962 1962–63 Welsh Cup runners-up
Billy McCandlessFlag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 9 September 19378 April 1946 1938–39 Third Division South Champions

Hall of Fame

Inducted dateNameBornDiedNationalityManager fromManager toHonours
18 September 2009 [12] John Relish5 October 1953—Flag of England.svg  England 1 July 198930 June 1993 Hellenic League Premier Champions
28 December 2019 [10] Justin Edinburgh18 December 19698 June 2019 (aged 49)Flag of England.svg  England 4 October 20116 February 2015 2013 Conference Premier play-off final winners, 2012 FA Trophy Final runners-up

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ "Sixty-four years on". 100 YEARS OF COCONUTS. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
    2. 1 2 "Somerton Park – Newport County". www.newport-county.co.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 Taylor, Andrew (15 October 2014). Newport County AFC The First 100 Years. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN   978-1-4456-1819-7.
    4. ↑ "County stay tempts Lee". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
    5. ↑ Phillips, Terry (6 October 2009). "Globetrotting Eddie May now at the helm of Porthcawl Town". walesonline. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
    6. ↑ "League Managers Association – LEN ASHURST". www.leaguemanagers.com. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
    7. ↑ "Beadle's about! Former Newport County boss Peter Beadle joins Hereford United as director of youth football". Hereford Times. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
    8. ↑ "NEWS | Club Legend Justin Edinburgh to be inducted into NCAFC Hall of Fame at Leyton Orient League fixture". www.newport-county.co.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
    9. ↑ "Hall of Fame – Newport County". www.newport-county.co.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
    10. 1 2 "Legendary former Newport County boss Justin Edinburgh inducted into club's hall of fame". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
    11. ↑ "Portsmouth 3 Newport 2". British Pathe. 17 February 1949. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
    12. ↑ "John Relish – Newport County". www.newport-county.co.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
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