Hatswell will stay in charge at the County until new boss is in place
WAYNE Hatswell will continue to act as the Newport County interim manager while the club’s sporting director tries to find a full-time successor to Michael Flynn.
Hatswell, who has a contract as first-team coach that runs to the end of the season, made it clear after last weekend’s 3-0 home win over bottom of the table Scunthorpe United that he won’t be throwing his hat into the ring for the job on a permanent basis
“I just wanted to get the weekend out of the way and then speak to the chairman about what’s going to happen moving forward,” said Hatswell in the wake of the win over The Iron.
“We have got to keep going and keep preparing the team. I will be here unless I am told not to be.
“I’ve been here a long time and the remit has always been to stay in the job. To do that you need to win games and that’s no different to anyone else.
“I am literally going to be taking it game by game. It is a tough job and I’ve got to keep my own emotions intact. I’ve had a big role to play at the club under the old gaffer and that’s not going to change.”
Sporting director Darren Kelly has been put in charge of the recruitment process for Flynn’s successor and the club maintains a clear blueprint has been established to identify suitable candidates who are a good fit for the Club.
“Darren will be taking the time to identify, assess, meet, and shortlist potential candidates for the Board to interview,” said a club statement.
“Given the strong foundation of the Club, the role is attracting a lot of interest and it is important that the Club takes the appropriate time in making the selection given the importance of the role. Wayne Hatswell will continue to act as Interim Manager.”
Kelly only came into the club in the summer when he became County’s first sporting director with a brief to work alongside Flynn and his management to develop a robust recruitment, development and retention strategy.
Many players moved on in the summer and four months later one of the club’s most successful managers has also departed of his own volition.
“This is an attractive role given the success and profile of the Club over the previous few years. It is important that I undertake appropriate due diligence to ensure that the selection process arrives at the correct decision in a timely manner,” said Kelly.
Having moved up to within a point of the playoff places, County host Bradford City at home this weekend.