NICKY BIDS TO BE THE MAYN MAN!
Striker’s mission to fire up Exiles
NICKY Maynard has already packed plenty into his glittering career – but he’s hungry to add another promotion with Newport County to his CV.
The 34-year-old ex-Bristol City and West Ham striker swapped League Two’s mid-table Mansfield for the promotion-chasing Exiles on deadline day and was straight into his stride, netting the winner in the first game of his loan spell against Grimsby last weekend.
Flynn has been a long-time admirer of the former Cardiff frontman and Maynard was left in no doubt that a move back to South Wales was the best option on the table.
“I had interest from a few clubs but only the gaffer here showed his intent in wanting me to be part of his squad,” said Maynard.
“He said he’d been chasing me for a couple of years and that
I’d fit straight into the team here and do really well.
“That was the first big pull, to want to go and play for him. Newport have been there or thereabouts over the past few years and I also wanted to be in a team challenging for promotion.
“It was bad timing at Mansfield. I picked up a hamstring injury before Christmas so I was out for three weeks, and when I came back the team was doing well.
“The gaffer there (Nigel Clough) was honest with me and said he didn’t see me playing as much as I’d like.
“You either sit and sulk or you deal with it and try and move on. I jumped at the chance to play regular football for a side at the top of the table under a manager who wants me.”
Maynard is aiming for a second promotion in three seasons, having netted 21 league goals in 2018-19 to lead Bury to a League One berth they ultimately never fulfilled.
The most prolific campaign in his storied career came after a difficult spell at Aberdeen which left Maynard questioning his love of the game - and he credits another influential manager with changing his fortunes.
“Ryan Lowe was a big one for me at Bury and that season was a turning point,” he said. “At Aberdeen, I had been away from my family and wasn’t playing.
“I played with him when I was coming through at Crewe and he believed in me. He got me scoring goals and enjoying my football again.
“I’ve only been at Newport for a short while but, from first impressions, there are similarities between him and the gaffer here in terms of man-management and how he looks after the players.
“He (Flynn) has that winning mentality and it’s a great, tight-knit group here - they’ve all made me feel really welcome.”
Boost
The arrival of a seasoned goalscorer in Maynard’s mould is a timely boost for County, whose victory over Grimsby last weekend ended an eight-match winless league run. They suffered another setback against struggling Southend in midweek but Maynard hopes the worst is behind his new side, who are hoping to rise to the third tier for the first time since reforming in 1989.
“It’s unusual not to have a blip at some point,” he added. “Hopefully our bad run is out of the way and we can start a good run from now on.
“Newport have come close before and it would be extremely special to get up this year. Hopefully the gaffer will have a smile on his face come the end of the season after taking his hometown club to the next level.”