Although football can be full of highs and lows, it is mainly the latter that fans of Newport County have been experiencing over the last decade.

It has been a period often lacking progress after the Welsh outfit returned to the Football League in 2013. After a few brief spells of improvement, the club has regressed again in recent years, leaving it in a stationary condition.

Unable to escape the doldrums of League Two and climb the ranks of English football, it is hard not to sympathise with fans of the club reformed in 1989.

Play-off final heartbreak, unconvincing management and a terrible pitch have all contributed to the club’s lacklustre performance over the last 12 years.

So, here is why I believe the side now nicknamed ‘The Exiles’ are currently the English Football League’s most depressing team to support.

STUCK IN THE MIDDLE

Since their return to the football league, Newport County have spent 12 consecutive seasons in League Two. This makes County the longest non-moving team in England’s top four divisions, having been neither promoted nor relegated for so many years.

While no fanbase yearns for relegation, I do believe it allows the opportunity for a restart, as seen with teams like Burnley in recent seasons.

However, a lack of progression truly has the potential to alienate a fanbase when a team appears locked in a cycle of mediocrity.

Newport finished one place above the relegation zone in the 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons and recorded a highest ever finish of 5^th place in 2020/21.

The club made an astounding escape in the latter of those two relegation-threatened campaigns. Having found themselves 11 points adrift on the 4^th March 2017, former Newport player Michael Flynn took the reins from then manager Graham Westley.

Flynn managed to register seven wins from the final 12 matches, with five of these wins being a 1-0 scoreline.

Miraculously, Newport stayed up on the final day after defeating Notts County 2-1 at home, with an 89^th minute winner from centre back Mark O’Brien.

However, having narrowly survived relegation, a lot of heartbreak was still to follow for Newport County fans.

PLAY-OFF FINAL PAIN

After taking over command at Rodney Parade and orchestrating the Great Escape, Michael Flynn managed to lead the Amber Army to a 7^th place finish the following season in 2018/19. This secured the side a play-off spot.

However, it was to end in misery for his team.

After drawing 1-1 on aggregate with Mansfield Town, they defeated them on penalties to reach the final against Tranmere Rovers.

During the final, Newport had multiple penalty claims ignored by referee Ross Joyce. This was before Mark O’Brien, the hero of the final day only a year prior, was dismissed for a second bookable offence, after hauling down James Norwood on the halfway line.

After the game entered extra time, Connor Jennings converted the winner at the back post in the 119^th minute from a perfectly placed cross from Jake Caprice. Tranmere secured promotion and Newport had lost in the most devastating fashion.

Sadly for the club, history would repeat itself two years later in the 2020/21 season.

Newport finished the season in 5^th and, after beating Forest Green Rovers 5-4 on aggregate, once again reached the final.

After a game filled with clear cut chances for Newport, it finished in a 0-0 stalemate and again progressed to extra time.

However, in the second half of extra time, Morecambe winger John O’Sullivan was brought down in the box and a very contentious penalty was awarded.

Left winger Carlos Mendes Gomes subsequently converted the penalty in the 107^th minute and Newport found themselves play-off final losers for the second time in three years.

Despite the play-offs yielding a depressing result twice over, the club had clearly made strides during Michael Flynn’s three-and-a-half-year tenure.

However, he resigned on 1^st October 2021 with Newport 15^th in League Two after nine games of the 2021/22 season. This was a sad end to his time at the club – a term that has been followed by multiple years of managerial uncertainty.

A PLANE WITH NO PILOT

During Newport’s return to League Two the club has overseen a high turnover of managers.

Since Flynn’s departure, for example, they have had three permanent managers in as many years – Nelson Jardim taking over from Graham Coughlan in July 2024.

Prior to Flynn’s tenure, Newport managers had a habit of starting seasons poorly and subsequently getting sacked.

Terry Butcher and Warren Feeney were both dismissed within three months of the 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons respectively, after lacklustre season openings led to their departures. James Rowberry recently left in a similar vein, being given his P45 on 10^th October 2022 with Newport in 18^th place in League Two after 13 games.

Starting a season with a barren run only further disillusions fans, as the team’s campaign often feels over before it has even begun.

A lack of strength surrounding the manager position is always troubling for supporters. It results in continued discontent about the club’s organisation and the fans begin to question whether the players are being utilised correctly.

Michael Flynn is Newport’s only manager of the last 12 years who managed to nail down the position and make real headway with the team.

However, the side has finished 11^th, 15^th and 18^th since his exit, indicating a regression in quality.

This will undoubtedly have left a sour taste in the mouth of the Welsh side’s fanbase.

VALUING THE CLUB

The value of Newport County is another concern for fans. Despite spending 12 seasons in the same division, they still have the 7^th lowest club value of any team in the league at £2.79 million.

Further to this, the club often makes a large loss, leaving them in debt and unable to spend transfer fees on players. The result is only free signings and loans being viable options.

During the 2021/22 financial year Newport made a loss of £1.23 million, followed by a loss of £913,306 the year after.

This has been put down to rising operating costs, so the situation looks set to become even more dire for County.

Furthermore, The Exiles’ pitch has been troubling for many years. Rodney Parade is shared with rugby clubs Dragons RFC and Newport RFC, which results in it being regularly torn to shreds by rugby matches. Although ground staff work tirelessly to fix the surface, it still looked like this in 2021 (see image below).

Although the surface has now been redeveloped, it may be hard to maintain a stable condition due to the shared nature of the stadium.

It also does not help that Rodney Parade has the 9^th smallest capacity in the league at 7850.

This means the club often struggles to generate funds from matchday tickets.

Finally, as can be seen by the map below, the geography of the club also poses many issues for supporters.

The current nearest away day for Newport fans is Cheltenham Town, which is still over an hour’s drive away. Contrarily, the farthest venue is Carlisle’s Brunton Park, which results in a near ten-hour round trip for fans.

This must be tough viewing for followers of the club who know the distances they need to travel for away fixtures each year.

CONCLUSION

Unfortunately, Newport do not appear to be any better off this season.

They have accrued nine points from the first six games and sit in 10^th place, having most recently received a 4-0 drubbing away to Swindon Town.

After an average start, it seems very likely that Newport will be spending another season in League Two next year.

At the current moment, the club just does not possess the financial backing or managerial stability needed to see itself promoted. Issues with their stadium and club debt do not do them any favours either.

Sadly, I would say Newport County’s proverbial Groundhog Day in League Two looks set to continue, as they still seem a far cry from the side Michael Flynn took to the play-off final on two separate occasions.

On that basis, I feel Newport County currently remain the English Football League’s most depressing side to support.

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