Wrexham v Newport County: It will be 'very, very feisty', says Graham Coughlan
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Former Bristol Rovers and Mansfield Town manager Graham Coughlan has been in charge at Newport County since October 2022
Newport County boss Graham Coughlan says his club are not on the "same planet" as Welsh rivals Wrexham.
He has also warned his players to expect a "hostile" Stok Racecourse environment on Saturday, in the clubs' first EFL encounter for 35 years.
Newport have one of the lowest budgets in League Two, while Wrexham are backed by Ryan Reynold's Hollywood cash.
"Let's concentrate on the football, let's not get involved in finances," said Coughlan.
"There would not be a discussion, we would not be on the same planet when it comes to situations like that, the haves and the have nots.
"We make the most of what we have. We work hard, we coach, we breed success on the training ground, we work towards development. We are not as fortunate as other football clubs.
"All of the things other clubs have may be a pipe dream for us but we work towards that, we work towards all the nice things you can have in life. We are working hard and hopefully taking baby steps toward creating and making something for us to be proud of here at Newport."
Newport are in the midst of a takeover as former Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins awaits English Football League approval to buy 52% of the shares of the currently fan owned club.
Coughlan is unconcerned whether Saturday's game is actually a "derby" given the distant proximity of the two cities. but Newport are taking their full allocation of more than 1100 tickets for their fans as they attempt to thwart promotion-chasing Wrexham and improve on their own lowly 17th position.
"It's one we are looking forward to, the juices get flowing when it come to games like these," he said.
"I think the fans have been looking forward to it since the day the fixture list came out. It will be a very, very feisty, a very intense game, and one we are certainly looking forward to."
Coughlan has been critical of the standard of officiating this season and hopes referee Leigh Doughty will show his side "respect" in a "hostile" environment.
The Newport manager said: "Trying to get a decision on a normal day is nigh on impossible for our football club so I just hope we are talking about the game, I hope we are talking about the quality, the product.
"I don't want to be coming away from the game talking about side shows and decisions because that has happened far too many times.
"It will be a game which could just depend on decisions. There are two teams in this game, not just one. I hope we get recognised, I hope we get our fair share of decisions
"I hope we get treated with respect and get treated the way we deserve to be treated, so the man in the middle might be an important player."