Newport County: Exiles' future bright after 'remarkable turnaround', says Graham Coughlan

Graham Coughlan's Newport County have won 16 of their 38 League Two matches so far this season

Graham Coughlan believes the future is "bright" for Newport County after a "remarkable turnaround" at the club.

The Exiles are just two points adrift of the League Two play-off places after wins over Morecambe and Wimbledon.

Coughlan feels the club can look forward, not back, under new chairman Huw Jenkins.

"I do think it's been a remarkable turnaround, it does feel like there is progress on and off the pitch," he said.

"Not only the mindset and the mentality from when we first arrived has dramatically changed, I think the football has changed.

"The personnel hasn't changed greatly, but it has changed. I just think with the new owner the future can be bright."

He added: "It feels like we are going into games thinking 'we can compete, we can win games of football and we're not little old Newport'.

"I don't know what will happen over the next 12 or 18 months. But with the new owner's backing, and the backing we get off the Amber Army. is tremendous."

Taking care of Drysdale

Newport return to action against promotion-chasing Barrow on Saturday.

Coughlan said the Exiles are still managing Declan Drysdale carefully given the defender's recent injury issues, adding that he will have the same personnel that travelled to Wimbledon last time out for the trip to Cumbria.

"Declan is coming back from injury so he needs to be looked after," he said.

"We've got the same squad as last week.

"We'll go to Barrow and give a good account of ourselves hopefully and try and come out the other end with a result."