Coughlan hits out at fixture planners as County fans face long trek

GRAHAM Coughlan has hit out at the Football League fixtures department for making Newport County fans face a 274-mile round trip to support their side on Boxing Day.

With Forest Green Rovers, Bristol Rovers and Exeter City all having gained promotion last season, it means the closest clubs to the Exiles are now Swindon Town (120-mile round trip) and Michael Flynn’s Walsall (204-mile round trip).

They are meeting each other at the County Ground in Swindon on Monday.

There were no Boxing Day fixtures last year, but in 2020 the County faithful had to make an even longer round trip (312 miles) to Crawley for 1-1 draw.

Coughlan believes the fixture makers could have found a better option for his side, although his protestations were only made public a few days before the game is due to be played.

“It’s a tough period for management, players and supporters. They’ve got a lot going on at home and to be asked to go to Wimbledon on Boxing Day is a shocking state of affairs by the EFL,” claimed Coughlan.

“For the life of me, I can’t work out the decision to send our fans three and a half hours into London when we have teams that are closer. We’ll just have to get on with it.”

With three games in eight days, two of them away from home, it is going to be a difficult period for Coughlan as he attempts to move his side further away from the dreaded drop zone.

He may be a glass half full merchant who only looks upward, but the reality is that having picked up a mere 14 points out of 33 in their last 14 league games stretching back to the start of October the trap door is a mere five places and eight points away.

On the other hand, the play-off places are only 11 points ahead of Coughlan and co. If he can get his side up for a big Christmas period things could change very quickly.

Wimbledon are mid table, Friday’s opponents at Rodney Parade, Leyton Orient, are top of the table and Crawley are a place below County.

Coughlan’s squad face a long trip in a busy festive period, but their other fixtures are on home soil against Leyton Orient on Friday, December 30 and Crawley on Monday, January 2.

It is a congested time but having not played a game since 10 December the players will be keen to get back into action.

“The lads are eager to get going again.

“It’s been another challenging week with facilities because of the weather, but the lads are eager to get going again,” said Coughlan.

“It’s never nice to go too long without a game and we can’t wait to get back into the swing of things. It will be great for the boys to get the jersey on, get back on the pitch and have the fans there.”