THE good people of Newport are at it already -- targeting managers and coaches once their teams lose a few games.

Newport County won their first three matches of the season, were sitting on top of the table and some were predicting promotion.

Then the team promptly lost five, and the so-called fans were calling for the head of boss Tim Harris.

Now Newport Rugby have lost their first three Celtic League matches, and coaches Leigh Jones and Richard Hill are not good enough, say some.

The pair have been subjected to abuse as they leave the pitch, while others have been unable to do that because they have already departed early unable to stomach any more.

A supporter pays his money and he's entitled to criticise, but that's where it should stay.

Personal abuse is not on when people are trying their hardest, it merely shows up the abusers.

It all goes back to the days, particularly at the old Somerton Park, where many used to go just to shout insults.

Tim Harris is a good manager who has worked himself to a standstill for Newport County. To call for him to go after a few defeats is shameful as shown when the team got back on track last night.

Similarly, Jones and Hill are capable coaches who are dedicated to Newport already, and it's not their fault the team is losing.

It's not Harris who couldn't find the back of the net and it's not Jones and Hill who are dropping passes and getting turned over.

The problem at Rodney Parade on the terraces at least is that so many are Johnny-come-latelies who are not true supporters.

They haven't been there in the bad old days when things were also going downhill. They've simply jumped on the bandwagon and enjoyed the good days and nights.

Now that the bad times are here they can't accept it, and they start hurling abuse.

There are many reasons why things are going wrong at Rodney Parade, and as some of the more reasonable fans have been saying, the writing has been on the wall for a while now.

Obviously, I am not as close to Newport County as Newport Rugby, and would merely point to a stack of injuries, especially in attack, as reasons why the County went off the boil.

But I would give the following explanations, in no particular order of priority, why things have not been going well at Rodney Parade.

* Injuries to key players meaning Newport's pre-season was badly affected.

* The decision to allow some players to go on holiday or return home when they should have stayed behind for specialised treatment.

* Too many players are now comfortably the wrong side of 30.

* The loss of Peter Buxton, a vital cog in Newport's wheel last season.

* The third change of coach in as many years, clearly needing time to bed in.

* Rivals starting to work Newport out. It started last season when sides put in a massive effort up front, realising Newport posed no great threat behind.

All of these reasons are relevant, and it's going to take a while yet to get things right.

Joint Celtic League table-toppers Connacht away, Cardiff home and Leinster, who will then have their stars back from Ireland duty, away are all to be faced in the next three weeks.

Then it's Edinburgh away and Toulouse at home in the Heineken Cup. Every game is difficult, and it could get worse before it gets better.

But Percy Montgomery is coming to add some sparkle behind, while under-21 players are developing, they are Welsh and they are worth persevering with.

Two of them, Hal Luscombe and Andrew Powell, are finding it diffcult as it is. Their handling is not the best, but it will come.

There are others like Nathan Brew, Rhys Jones and Luke Charteris who should all make their mark.

The overseas stars were a necessary part of the revival, the big money was spent, and it has all served it's purpose in putting Newport back up there.

But the second wave is coming, it just requires patience, maybe a lot of it for a fair while, but sadly paitience is what some so-called supporters don't have.

They want it all, and they want it now, which frankly makes them not worth bothering with.

What about Tony Brown? He has put millions of his own money in, so how do you think he feels? How badly hurt do you imagine he was on Saturday?

Just think how many people are worse off in this world. You could be about to pilot a plane to Iraq, you could be lying in a hospital bed with an incurable disease.

Does losing a few football or rugby matches really matter that much? Come on, get real.