Wayne Hatswell: Newport County assistant manager signs contract extension

Assistant manager Wayne Hatswell says he is fully focused on Newport County after extending his contract to 2024.

However, the 46-year-old admits he would consider moving if the right opportunity arose.

Having taken caretaker charge following the departure of previous manager Mike Flynn, Hatswell also said he "never doubted" he would work well with new boss James Rowberry.

"We've been friends and we share ideas," said Hatswell.

"I pick his brains and did when he was at Cardiff."

Rowberry was Cardiff City's first-team coach before his Rodney Parade appointment in October - but previously worked alongside Hatswell having been a part of Newport's academy set-up.

The pair also worked together as mentors on the Football Association of Wales' coaching programme.

"I'm delighted that Wayne has signed extended terms which fall in line with mine," said Rowberry.

"He has been vital in helping me settle in at the football club.

"He has played a key role at the club and I am in a fortunate position to inherit a club that is built on solid foundations that he helped create."

Hatswell, who also played for Newport, was first appointed assistant manager in 2013 but left the club two years later - following ex-County boss Justin Edinburgh to Gillingham.

However, he was brought back to south Wales in 2017 by Flynn and was an integral part of the coaching staff that guided Newport to the third, fourth, and fifth rounds of the FA Cup, as well as two League Two play-off finals.

Flynn, who left the club in October after five years in charge, is yet to secure a new job but Hatswell was asked if he would rejoin his former boss should an opportunity arise.

"He hasn't got a job," said Hatswell, before joking, "I haven't got a crystal ball, if Mike Flynn got the Liverpool job I'm a big Liverpool fan.

"It's irrelevant really at the moment.

"Listen, we discuss things and If there's an opportunity to go to a Championship club, or whatever it may be, then the club would probably not stand in my way.

"It's the same for anybody at the club if you get an opportunity to go somewhere - and it might not just be with Michael Flynn.

"Football's a unique industry and a week is a long time in football, let alone a couple of years or a couple of months.

"All I'm focussed on is where I'm at now and all I want to do is make sure Newport County do well, because that's what I'm paid to do."

"This is Newport, we all have to muck in, it doesn't matter whether it is cleaning the dressing room or putting the bins out, we all do that here. It is like that as staff, it's a place where we have to get on with things and stick together and that is why we are so close knit really."