Newport County

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

Christian Fuchs feels Newport County's performance in the 2-2 draw with Barrow will have given fans hope that the club can preserve their League Two status this season.

The Exiles twice surrendered the lead against the Bluebirds, but ultimately claimed their first point since Fuchs was named as Dave Hughes' successor at Rodney Parade.

"We wanted to get the fans on board right away. How they have supported the team was incredible," said Fuchs.

"They have been suffering as much as we did over quite a stretch now.

"We created some sort of hope amongst everybody, especially with the team, they (fans) have seen what they are capable of doing.

"The starting point was today and now we'll move forward."

Newport remain at the bottom of the League Two table and are five points adrift of safety having played 18 league matches this season.

But former Austria international Fuchs feels his side showed plenty of encouraging signs against Barrow following their 3-0 loss to Oldham Athletic in his first match as manager a week earlier.

"We made a lot of improvements compared to the weekend before," Fuchs added.

"The boys took everything at heart and played good football in my eyes.

"What you've seen today was a team that has good quality and is brave on the ball.

"It's just the beginning, we've worked together for just one week. In my eyes, it's a massive improvement.

"We'll keep working and address what the issues were and how we can be defensively better, but overall, a top performance from the boys."

Image source, BBC Sport

Newport County's wait for a home League Two win this season continued on Saturday as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Barrow.

It was a first home game at Rodney Parade for new manager Christian Fuchs, whose side twice took the lead in the game.

A point means it is now two draws and seven defeats from nine home league games this season.

So how would you assess County's start to life under Fuchs? And were there signs of encouragement against Barrow?

Have your say here!

Luke Hemmings
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Newport County captain Lee Jenkins insists the Exiles aren't a 'bottom of the league team' - and are ready to prove it under new boss Christian Fuchs.

Former Leicester City defender Fuchs was named Newport manager last week with the club sitting at the foot of the League Two table.

He takes charge of his first home game on Saturday when County host Barrow (15:00 GMT), with Jenkins admitting victory against their 17th-placed opponents can kick-start Newport's season.

Newport are yet to win at home so far this term, but centre-back Jenkins said: "The boys do believe that we can go higher than we are at the moment and we all know that we're not a bottom of the league team.

"Hopefully we'll see in the next few weeks that the things Christian [Fuchs] and [assistant manager] Mark Smith have put on the training ground will bring it all together and start getting the results we've been missing.

"It'd be a massive thing to get that first win [at home]. I'd just love to see the fans' reaction to the final whistle if we can get the win.

Jenkins arrived at Newport from Cymru Premier side Haverfordwest County in the summer, making 17 league starts.

And the 24-year-old has quickly established himself as a leader within the group, something he is relishing.

"It's big to captain this club, a big achievement to walk out as captain and I was honoured when I got given it," he said.

"If you've got an armband on your arm it doesn't mean there's any added pressure.

"You've just got to keep the boys together and go out there and make sure we're all going out there as a team and trying to get a result at the end of the day."

Having made the step up from the Welsh system, Jenkins admits there have been challenges in adapting to League Two particularly due to the intensity of the League.

"The Cymru Premier is a good standard, but the English set-up is different. Everyone's full-time," he said.

"I've taken everything that's come at me the best I could."

Still only in the early stages of his league career, Jenkins retains the long term ambition of representing Wales one day.

"I'm Welsh through and through," Jenkins said.

"Playing for Wales would be the icing on the cake one day."

For now, his focus is on turning belief into results for the Exiles, adding: "Hopefully we get that first win and then they'll start rolling in.

"It would be massive for everyone — players, fans, the whole club."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Premier League winner Christian Fuchs has the task of keeping Newport County in the Football League – but fans have mixed views on whether he can pull it off.

The former Leicester City defender has replaced Dave Hughes at Rodney Parade and took charge of his first game in the Exiles' 3-0 defeat at Oldham Athletic.

With the side five points adrift at the bottom of League Two, we asked for your views on whether Fuchs could engineer a 'Great Escape'. Here are a selection of your responses.

Steve: Christian Fuchs has never done a job like this before. Why should he be any different from the last one?

Carl: I will say yes. We must stop these individual mistakes, take responsibility, and shoot instead of looking for others to have a go. Let's get behind Christian.

Chris: I want to be positive, but it's hard to keep on doing so. Another appointment with no managerial experience does seem like repeating the same mistakes. The appointment could work, but 'could' isn't good enough in the current situation.

Ade: He's been left the same tools David Hughes had. Over to the chairman for new investment and clearance. Fuchs has experience so maybe, just maybe.

Carl: The players are simply not good enough for this league. You can be the best manager around but if you don't have the players – i.e a bit of quality and a bit of old school player knowledge - the same outcome is inevitable.

Terry: No, he won't. By the time the next transfer window opens, Newport will have played for another 18 points. Should they not earn at least 12 of those, then the National League beckons with the chance next season of a Newport v Merthyr Town Welsh derby!

Chris: No he lacks experience at that level. Newport will be relegated. They should have gone for a proven coach at that level, but they've gone for a sticking plaster.

Jamie: Fresh eyes but they will need to focus quickly. A couple of wins at home may help.

Clive: Long way to go, but it can be done. A few good results will do the trick.

Mark: It's five points not 15 and loads of games to go. We have to believe in this manager and hopefully come January he will be able to bring in players he wants to improve the squad.

Trev: Fuchs needs to get the defence organised. We need to start picking up points and with 29 games to go, it's possible for us to move up the league but we need some back-to-back wins soon along with backing in the transfer window.

Paul: For a guy with no experience in the trenches of League 2, this is an incredible task ahead. Christian needs support from the chairman not just words. Need a few old heads who are battle hardened in this league. The only way is up!

Image source, BBC Sport

New Newport County manager Christian Fuchs watched his team lose 3-0 at Oldham Athletic in his first match in charge.

It means County remain bottom of League Two after 17 games - five points adrift of safety.

But can Fuchs inspire a great escape, to repeat their efforts in 2017 when County stayed up on the final day of the season having been 11 points away from safety in March of that year?

Have your say here!

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

New manager Christian Fuchs praised the efforts of his Newport County players but acknowledged that mistakes proved costly in the 3-0 loss at Oldham Athletic.

Fuchs was confirmed as Dave Hughes' successor on Thursday and had only taken one training session before his first game in charge.

County remain bottom of League Two after two goals from Josh Hawkes and another from former player Joe Quigley gave Oldham a 3-0 win.

"The boys left it all out there," former Austria and Leicester City defender Fuchs said.

"They tried hard - they never stopped, even though when we went down, they really tried to give their best.

"What let us down is exactly what happened earlier this season already.

"In the games before, at the decisive moments, we were not tidy enough, we didn't have the organisation behind the ball that is needed to prevent those goals.

"I felt, honestly, by the end of the first half, when Oldham actually put us under a lot of pressure, that the boys really defended well, really were disciplined, tried the hardest to keep the ball out of the box, fought for every inch.

"Unfortunately, then a couple of individual mistakes, not disciplined enough behind the ball, then cost us.

"You can tell they have the heart at the right place. They care about the club, they care about their performance,

"But now it's also, yes, we can put in all the effort that we want, but we need to put points on the board.

"Unfortunately, again, some individual mistakes, second balls which we addressed, cost us and that hurts even more."

Image source, Getty Images

Captain James Clarke says the Newport County squad are excited to be "learning from the best" after the appointment of Christian Fuchs as the club's new manager.

Fuchs, who won the Premier League and FA Cup during his time with Leicester City, replaces David Hughes, who was sacked following the club's 1-0 defeat against Shrewsbury.

The role is Fuchs' first senior management position, with the Austrian having previously only worked as assistant coach for Charlotte FC in America's MLS.

Fuchs faces the daunting task of keeping Newport in the EFL, with the club four points from safety after three wins from 16 League Two games this season.

But Clarke says Fuchs' lack of experience is not a concern.

"You look at his pedigree and background, he clearly knows football," said Clarke.

"We're excited with the appointment, it's an exciting one."

Despite being the oldest player in the squad, Clarke is expecting to learn under Fuchs' guidance.

"I'm 36 now, but you never stop learning in football, and there is nothing really better than learning from the best," he added.

"He's somebody who's won the Premier League and played international football.

"I can't wait to meet him and see development on the training pitch, see what I can learn from him and what the younger players can develop into."

Fuchs, who won 78 caps for Austria, will begin his reign with a trip to Oldham Athletic on Saturday before his first Newport home game comes against Barrow seven days later.

Oldham have conceded the fewest goals in League Two so far this campaign, but have not won at Boundary Park in four games.

"If we win the next two we could be out of the relegation zone," said Clarke.

"I don't think you can expect things to change overnight, but there's plenty of games left in the season to turn it around.

"He [Fuchs] is going to implement his style and hopefully we pick that up quickly."

Luke Hemmings
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Getty Images

New manager Christian Fuchs has some serious issues to address to turn Newport County's season around.

Former Austria and Leicester City defender Fuchs, 39, has replaced David Hughes, who was sacked having overseen just four wins in 22 matches across all competitions.

The final straw was the a 1-0 defeat away at relegation rivals Shrewsbury Town, a result that means the Exiles are four points adrift of safety at the bottom of League Two.

Appointed in the summer of 2025, Hughes inherited a squad in transition, with experienced figures such as Shane McLoughlin, Nick Townsend, and Aaron Wildig departing on free transfers.

The club's recruitment focused heavily on youth, bringing in promising loanees such as Sammy Braybrooke and Nathan Opoku from Leicester's Under-21s, but the lack of League Two know-how quickly became apparent.

In one early-season fixture against MK Dons, every Newport outfield player was younger than their opposite number, illustrating the squad's inexperience.

Fuchs now faces the task of steering this youthful side to safety.

On the pitch, the struggles were clear to see, a disjointed side with a depleting confidence, conceding "avoidable" goals and ranking third worst for expected goals against.

The attacking numbers did not offer promise either, languishing near the bottom for shots on target and overall goal threat, despite showing creativity in moments through Kai Whitmore, top goal scorer and assister, and ranking fifth for through-balls.

The statistics are worrying: second-most goals conceded per match, just two clean sheets, most penalties given away, and the highest foul count in the division.

Even more frustrating for fans, Newport remain winless at home in the league this season, a statistic that has only deepened discontent and urgency for change.

Despite these struggles, there have been flashes of positivity, most notably an impressive win away over Harrogate Town and a morale-boosting victory against Cardiff City in the EFL Trophy.

But those moments were not enough to mask the broader issues, and a defeat to Exeter City in the same competition followed by the loss to Shrewsbury sealed Hughes' fate.

Injuries and fatigue have exposed the squad's lack of depth, forcing frequent changes and reliance on untested players, while tactical inconsistency - switching to five defenders and two attackers - appears to have left the team without a clear identity.

Fuchs will need to bring structure and stability, but he also inherits a few bright sparks to build around.

New signing Braybrooke has impressed in midfield, ranking top among Newport players for average ratings, while Whitmore has emerged as the club's top scorer, top assister, and one of their most consistent performers.

Hughes praised Whitmore's impact before his departure, saying: "Kai's a great lad. He has got some important goals.

"He has continued to progress his game as he continues his own journey. He's got an infectious enthusiasm and personality around the players."

Whitmore's development offers hope for the future and - if Fuchs is to succeed - it is clear he must play to the strengths of his young midfielder and build a system that allows County's talent to flourish.

Despite Hughes' time in charge being turbulent and his exit feeling inevitable, there was a sense of respect and appreciation from within the dressing room for the departing boss.

Club captain James Clarke reflected on the moment Hughes told the players he would be leaving, saying: "To be fair, he came across very classy in the changing room after obviously what just happened.

"He said that we are a bunch of honest lads, we worked hard. He was brilliant, to be fair. I didn't expect him to speak as well as he did and give as much positivity to us after having some bad news."

Clarke added: "He's been nothing but class for us and, you know, he's protected the players when we probably haven't performed for him as well.

"So, he's been brilliant. Unfortunately it hasn't worked out, but I can't speak any higher of him really."

Looking ahead, Clarke also expressed optimism about the new appointment: "We're quite excited with the appointment, you know. It's an exciting one.

"I think the lads can all get behind it."

Whether that renewed optimism and energy will be enough to steer Newport away from relegation remains to be seen, but the task ahead is daunting for Fuchs, who will be hoping to steady the ship and pick up vital points as his side travel to Oldham Athletic on Saturday, 22 November (15:00 GMT).

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Newport County are on the hunt for a new manager once again after the club sacked David Hughes.

County are rooted to the foot of the League Two table after just three wins in 16 league games this season.

Hughes' sacking followed a 1-0 defeat away at Shrewsbury on Saturday, but who do you want to see named as his successor?

Here is what you said.

Andrew: "Someone who has a proven track record in keeping a side up. Neil Warnock, Mark Hughes, even if it's just a short term appointment, the top priority is to keep the club in the football league."

Phil: "We need an experienced manager to try and save us."

Ade: "David Hughes has my upmost respect for trying to get a team going that was assembled by someone else. Who should come in? Not Mike Flynn, but someone who has a magic wand!"

Terry: "Huw Jenkins will have to dig deep into his pockets if the club is to get in someone such as Darren Ferguson. Mike Flynn has been sacked by Walsall, Swindon and Cheltenham since he left in 2021, so it would be a big mistake if he was brought back."

Mike: "Unfortunately whoever the manager is it's the recruitment that has been the problem. Really concerned, I feel if we go down to the National League it will be the end."

Ian: "I would like to see Michael Fynn back and try to reintroduce confidence back into the side."

Kevin: "Even Jurgen Klopp would have a job to get County out of this mess!"

Image source, Getty Images

The Chairman of the Newport County Supporters Association Trust says the sacking of David Hughes is "disappointing" despite it being a needed change.

Newport's 1-0 defeat away at Shrewsbury on Saturday proved to be the final straw for Hughes, who won just three of his 16 League Two games in charge of the club.

As a result, County sit bottom of the table and four points adrift of safety, having picked up just 11 points this campaign.

Speaking to BBC Radio Cymru's Dros Frecwast, Arnie Bartlett said: "Everyone is disappointed that it didn't work out with David Hughes.

"He's a genuine person who's interacted with the supporters, and we could see what he was trying to do on the pitch but with a small budget and a lot of injuries too.

"But football is a results business and we haven't won enough points – and the performance especially in the second half at Shrewsbury on Saturday was very flat.

"Everyone was thinking we need to change something and usually the attention turns to the manager."

Former Wales striker Nathan Blake said the decision to fire Hughes was "unavoidable" while ex-Wales defender Danny Gabbidon said: "It's going to be interesting to see where Newport go from here."

Asked who the club will turn to next to lead them in their fight against relegation, Bartlett said: "I've heard the long list of names that have been linked.

"It's very difficult for me to name one individual but one that can help us get better results on the pitch.

"There are 30 games left, people tend to forget that – it's so important that we keep in touch with the teams around us and then we'll have the transfer window in January to strengthen the squad."

County are next in League Two action on Saturday, 22 November, as they travel to Boundary Park to face mid-table Oldham Athletic.

After David Hughes was sacked on Saturday, Newport County are looking for a fifth permanent manager since Mike Flynn departed in 2021.

Was it the right decision for Hughes to go following the 1-0 defeat to relegation rivals Shrewsbury Town?

Who would Newport fans like to see take over the side, and what are the challenges facing any new boss?

Have your say here