Newport County are on a high after manager Michael Flynn said no to Lincoln City’s offer to become their manager.
The Imps approached County and were given permission for talks with Flynn, but he quickly decided to stay with his home city club.
Newport play SkyBet League Two leaders Exeter City at home on Saturday and Newport’s Irish defender Mark O’Brien says: “It’s brilliant.
“We can just get on with what we need to do this season.
“If a new manager came in, everybody would be on edge not knowing if he’s going to want them to stay or want them to not stay.
“But he’s staying and it has given us that little bit more of a boost and everyone can just get on with the job in hand.
“If we play to our full potential, then anything can happen this season.”
“Any team that has come to Rodney Parade for the whole time that I’ve been here, we’ve never feared anyone.
“If we play to the best of our abilities, there are not many teams that can stop us.”
County have already beaten Plymouth Argyle and Crewe when they were League Two leaders and are now aiming to complete a hat-trick.
Miserly Newport earned 1-0 wins against both Argyle and Crewe. County have kept six clean sheets in total and have conceded only five goals in total.
Flynn has put Lincoln links behind him and says: “My focus is fully on Exeter. Everything that has happened in the last week has been dealt with.
“We just need to move on again now to concentrate on what will be a tough, but exciting game.
Stage 2 – ✅✅
Looking forward to cracking on with stage 3 and start upping my rehab now the cast has finally come off!! Feels good to see my foot again 😂 #rehab #goodfeeling #timetostepitup pic.twitter.com/9HDweNqfaF— Mickey Demetriou (@Mickeyd_09) September 20, 2019
“They’ve had a fantastic start, scored a few late goals and ground out results as well. That shows they can do the horrible part of it.
“Fair play to Matt Taylor and Exeter, they’ve had a fantastic start and it’s quite refreshing that if we do beat them we’re only two points behind them. What would that say about our start?”
Exeter are three points clear at the top and look certain to stay there even if they lose against Newport.
They have earned 21 points from nine matches and are still unbeaten with six wins and three draws.