Michael Flynn is keen for a ‘raucous and loud’ welcome back to Rodney Parade when League Two leaders Exeter City visit South Wales on Saturday.
The Exiles manager has pledged himself to Newport County despite an approach from Lincoln City.
“We will be fully recharged ready to go for Saturday with that raucous, loud crowd that we have at Rodney Parade,” said Flynn after County’s 1-1 draw at Macclesfield.
“There was an approach, the club gave me permission to speak to them. I spoke to them and made the decision that I have a job to do here and that was that.
“It’s always flattering that you’re wanted by people because it shows you’re doing a good job. From the players’ reaction at Macclesfield they are comfortable with the decision I’ve made.
“Newport is a special football club, it’s been through hell and back, and . . . they are a special group of fans.”
NEXT UP | The #Exiles are back on Parade this Saturday as we take on the League leaders! 😍
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📆 Saturday 21st September
🕒 3pm KO
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📲 @NewportCounty#NCAFC pic.twitter.com/j2uF7MFBEc— Newport County AFC (@NewportCounty) September 18, 2019
Exeter are the third League Two leaders to visit Newport this season, with Plymouth and Crew both beaten 1-0.
Flynn, 38, has been linked with a number of managerial roles after leading helping Newport make considerable progress since being appointed in March 2017.
Padraig Amond’s fifth goal of the season, scored after 50 seconds, set County off to a flying start at Macclesfield when he shot home from a Robbie Willmott corner.
Macclesfield equalised through former Newport player Emmanuel Osadebe after 19 minutes at the Moss Rose ground and the clash ended 1-1.
Osadebe looked offside as he ran clear, but the officials allowed him to run on and fire past goalkeeper Tom King.
“It’s a solid away point away and an offside goal has stopped us from winning,” said Flynn
“It was a good game, end to end, Macclesfield looked dangerous on the counterattack. We were a bit too open again for my liking away from home, but the players put a hell of a shift in.
“They put in a shift that was deserving of the badge. It was a hard-earned point.”
The Exiles slipped to sixth place with 16 points from the opening nine matches.
Flynn made one change from the side who lost their first league match in 18 fixtures at Northampton Town.
Scot Bennett returned after recovering from injury and he took over from Matty Dolan in a 4-3-3 formation.
“The manager has done really well since he has come in,” said Bennett. “We all want him to stay. As players, we go out and do our jobs.”
Macclesfield Town (3-4-1-2): Owen Evans, Miles Welch-Hayes, Fiacre Kelleher (capt), Theo Vassell, Theo Archibald, Connor Kirby, Jay Harris, Corey O’Keeffe, Emmanuel Osadebe, Virgil Gomis (Ben Stephens 85), Arthur Gnahoua. Subs not used: Charles-Cook, Ironside, Horsfall, Ntambwe, Cameron
Newport County AFC (4-3-3): Tom King, Daniel McNamara, Mark O’Brien, Kyle Howkins, Ryan Haynes, Joss Labadie (capt), Josh Sheehan, Scot Bennett (Matty Dolan 72), Tristan Abrahams (Dominic Poleon 89), Padraig Amond, Robbie Willmott. Subs not used: Townsend, Leadbitter, Whitely, Maloney, Ekpiteta
Referee: Graham Salisbury
Attendance: 1,435 (91 away)
Newport defender Ryan Inniss has been suspended for five games by the Football Association for biting in the EFL Trophy loss to West Ham United under-21s.
Inniss, aged 24, was sent off following an incident with Reece Hannam.
He will be available from Tuesday, October 8 and Newport have an EFL Trophy game against Exeter City at Rodney Parade that evening.