New manager by May 16 – County chairman

11:34am Monday 5th May 2008

Comments (15)   Have your say »

NEWPORT County chairman Chris Blight has pledged to appoint a new manager by Friday, May 16.

The Exiles chief has written an open letter to supporters, players and backroom staff in order to respond to the Argus story that revealed several members of the current playing squad are in negotiations with other clubs.

The Exiles chairman has also revealed: l It was an incredibly difficult decision to sack former boss Peter Beadle.

l That the club have already received 30 applications to succeed Beadle, before advertising in the Non-League Paper yesterday.

l The board have had informal discussions with members of the first- team squad.

l The board have new players committed to pre-season training with the club.

l Comments in the Argus have hurt' Blight and the other directors.

The chairman's statement, sent to supporters on Saturday, underlines a determination to be swift in making a managerial appointment and giving an ambitious new manager' a budget to match'.

Blight explained: "Please understand that we desperately wanted Peter and this squad to succeed and be playing in the Conference next year, we feel the club is now ready.

"The difficult position we are now faced with over these few weeks was unavoidable. We obviously couldn't approach or discuss the manager's position with ANYONE before the end of the season, particularly as we were hoping that in season 08/09 Peter would be our manager in the tier above us.

"We have nobody lined up' as people have intimated, and it was imperative that the club stayed professional and confidential through the last week of the season. The hunt for a new manager started on Monday morning and has created the current scenario.

"We are as uncomfortable with that scenario' as you are. However, the plain fact is that we will need a period of ten to 14 days minimum to conduct a professional exercise to attract candidates, arrange interviews and arrive at agreement on a decision to employ a new manager that will take this club to the Conference and hopefully beyond.

"Comments in the Argus and other mediums obviously hurt myself and other directors because we know the effort and resources we put into this season.

"It was for this reason I wanted to put pen to paper' and help you understand the logistics of the current situation and the fact that we have NOT put the club in jeopardy, and although we want continuity through the playing staff, it is impossible to promise or commit new contracts or deals with players when we are only a matter of days from appointing a new manager.

"That manager will carry his own views and we need him to not only be part of that process but to be in control of it.

"You have witnessed our ambitions this season and in particular over the last few months. The playing staff are aware of the financial commitment the board wanted to make to try and motivate the players for promotion. That ambition will carry on next season, and beyond. We will appoint an ambitious manager with a budget to match.

"Once again we would ask you to be patient and understand our predicament. We are not naive enough to think our playing squad is not attractive to many other managers and are already aware that certain players have been approached or even made decisions for next season.

"Advertisements were placed in the Non-League Paper this weekend, which was the earliest date we could advertise. First interviews will be held next week, second interviews the following week and hopefully an appointment made by Friday 16th May.

"We propose to arrange a meeting immediately after that appointment to introduce players and staff, and afterwards volunteers and academy personnel. We need to be thorough and professional about the process and make sure we investigate every applicant correctly.

"To date we have already had around THIRTY applications of various ages and levels of experience. (We obviously will not interview everybody!) "The club is in great shape, a strong board of directors, a fantastic (and growing) fan base, incredible team of volunteers, an academy that punches above its weight and a stadium capable of hosting football and crowds comfortably at the next level.

"We are ready, and with the correct appointment can build on the work and achievements of the last two years and really create a buzz around the city."

- The Argus understands that five first-team players are in negotiations with other clubs and could all depart Spytty Park this week. None of the players is over the age of 30.