NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn has explained the reasons behind the club’s switch to black and amber hooped socks in the last two games.

County have worn all-black socks for the majority of the season so far but switched to the retro hoops for the FA Cup victory over Cambridge United on December 3.

And they retained the new look for last weekend’s 3-3 draw with Carlisle United, with Flynn revealing that the sock swap was to satisfy overly-fussy match officials.

“I didn’t like the all-black socks that we had,” said the Exiles boss.

“Because there was white on the bottom of the black socks the officials kept telling us that we had to cover it up with black tape.

“It’s crazy. It’s the worst rule I’ve ever seen in football.

“I cannot for the life of me figure out what that rule is for.

“And they wouldn’t accept that it was actually one sock, not the black ones cut off with a pair of white ones underneath.

“It was a nightmare. It was doing my head in.

“The amount of arguments we were having over socks was ridiculous so I asked if we could change them and fair play to the kit men for finding socks that I think look good.”

South Wales Argus:

Captain Joss Labadie (pictured above in the all-black socks earlier this season) said: “They were a good omen for us against Cambridge but most of us aren’t too fussed what we wear.

“Some of the more vain players are bothered but the rest of us just get on with it.

“It depends how fussy the referee is. It’s silly but if it makes them happy then we’ve got to get on with it I suppose.”