Graham Coughlan: Ex-Bristol Rovers and Mansfield manager appointed Newport County boss
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Graham Coughlan joined Mansfield in 2019 to move closer to his family in Yorkshire
Newport County have appointed former Bristol Rovers and Mansfield Town boss Graham Coughlan as their new manager.
Irishman Coughlan, 47, will be in charge for the first time on Saturday when Newport host Colchester United.
The struggling League Two club, who have won only one of their last eight league games, dismissed James Rowberry and assistant Carl Serrant last week.
"I can't wait to get going," said Coughlan, who has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal at Rodney Parade.
"I have had a little break [from management] but as soon as I met the chairman and the board members it really excited me.
"I am desperate to get out there and hear the noise this fanbase creates because it's always been a difficult place to come to as an opposing player and as an opposing coach or manager.
"That will be key for us, getting the crowd and that connection back."
Former centre-back Coughlan's most recent coaching job was with Sheffield United's under-23s.
"I was desperate to come back in as a senior figure," he added.
"I still believe I have a lot to offer - unfinished business if you like.
"We will be front foot, we will be high energy, high press. We will be strong, we will be physical - League Two is a physical league - but we will want to pass the ball. We will look to bring one or two of the young kids through as well.
"We will look to get a relationship with our fanbase so this becomes an intimidating place.
"Above all we want a winning team. That's what we are all in the business for."
Coughlan made more than 500 appearances in a playing career which included spells at the likes of Swindon Town, Plymouth Argyle, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham United, Shrewsbury Town and Southend United.
He took over as Bristol Rovers manager - having previously been a defensive coach - midway through the 2018-19 season and secured the club's League One status.
Coughlan's team continued to impress the following season before he left for League Two Mansfield in December 2019. He left the Stags in October 2020 and joined Sheffield United in the spring of 2021.
Coughlan has made former Colchester United manager and fellow Irishman Joe Dunne, 49, his assistant at Newport, having previously worked with him at Bristol Rovers and Mansfield.
Despite Newport's struggles so far this season - they currently sit 19th - Coughlan is convinced his new squad are capable of climbing the table.
"The squad is strong. You don't go to Leyton Orient and beat the league leaders 2-1, you don't go up to Harrogate and be 4-0 up at half-time and be a bad squad," he added.
"Once the players buy in and give it their all, I don't think we will have a problem.
"I think that squad has got capabilities and I think we would all agree it's been underperforming points-wise and position-wise."
Newport sporting director Darren Kelly took charge of the team as they were beaten at Crawley last weekend.
He was part of the manager recruitment process alongside Newport's board of directors and former Wales international Paul Trollope, who acted in an advisory role.
Chairman Gavin Foxall says Coughlan was one of 26 applicants for the job.
"Graham's CV speaks for itself in terms of experience in this league both as a player and as a manager," Foxall said.
"But what struck us when we saw him is that he has a very infectious enthusiasm for things. He was very clear about what the team really needed and about the fact that they are a decent squad but are just not showing a consistent rhythm at the moment.
"He shared with us some of his values which are akin to the club's and he had a very clear plan in terms of what he was going to do in the short term and indeed in the medium term as well.
"We are in a position in the league we didn't anticipate being in at the start of the season and Graham has a clear plan to get us up the table, looking upwards not downwards. That's why we are sat here now."
Mark Cooper and David Artell were among other names linked with the Newport vacancy.