AFTER the Stag weekend and the regrets and the recriminations comes the big day itself and, in my view, Graham Westley is still the best man for the job.

There were some ugly scenes after the final whistle on Saturday as Newport County AFC were beaten by the Stags – play-off chasing Mansfield Town – at Field Mill.

When Westley went over to thank the travelling fans, as he always does, the Exiles boss was clapped by some supporters but others responded with a volley of abuse.

There seems to be a split in the fan-base and the Argus is stuck in the middle.

We’re being castigated from one side for not being critical enough of the manager, the team and the board of directors.

And we’re also getting it in the neck from the other side for being too negative when positivity is what’s required in the current situation.

That last point is one I made in this column last week and the club has done its bit this week by slashing ticket prices for the season-defining clash with Leyton Orient at Rodney Parade this coming Saturday.

Like most managers, Westley is not a fan of the phrase ‘must-win game’ and logic is on his side.

Whatever the result, the Exiles won’t be relegated this weekend.

There will still be 12 games and 36 points to play for thereafter.

But the battle of the bottom two does have an extra significance and, in the announcement that tickets will be just £10 for adults and £1 for under-16s, the club has rightly referred to it as the “biggest game of the season so far.”

Technically it’s not a ‘must-win game’ but it feels as if victory is essential just to stay in touch with the teams above and to give everyone – fans and players – a much-needed injection of belief.

The importance of this game cannot be overstated and the club has to be applauded for recognising that and being proactive in an attempt to get as many people through the gate as possible.

Chairman of the Operations Board Gavin Foxall said: "This is a crucial game in our fight for survival.

"The manager and the players are clear how vital a role the supporters play and need that to continue.

"To support this, the club is offering a promotion for the game and asks supporters to encourage friends, family and neighbours to come along and support the team.”

The message from the club to the people of Newport is ‘your County needs you’ and we can only hope that it gets through to as many as possible.

As for the suggestions from some that the game is already up and Westley should be sacked – I don't see how that would help the team in its current predicament.

His critics point to a record of just one win in 19 games in all competitions and that is hard to defend.

That sorry streak of eight successive League Two defeats between late November and early January may well prove to be the run that ultimately seals County’s fate.

But Westley is also right when he points to an upturn in form since his major surgery in the January transfer window.

And the level of vitriol thrown in his direction over the past three games seems over the top.

Refereeing decisions have arguably cost his side four points – one at Cambridge United, two against Morecambe and another one at Mansfield – that would have seen them off the bottom and just two points from safety.

And it’s not as if County are being blown away by the opposition.

The manager’s “seven unbeaten in eight” line didn’t go down well with some but it shows that the Exiles are competitive.

Not since the New Year’s Eve capitulation at home to Exeter City have they been torn apart.

Westley insists that his side are capable of winning football matches and they have shown that they aren’t that far away.

But they need to take that extra step and, whether it’s through a stroke of luck or a flash of inspiration, they must get over that line and do it on a consistent basis if they are to avoid a return to non-league football.

I’ve already stated my belief that the board should stick with Westley even if they do go down.

That is not a view shared by everyone but sacking him now would in all likelihood kill off any hope the club has of beating the drop.

It would simply create more instability and more chaos when what’s needed is the exact opposite.

The club faces its biggest battle in a quarter of a century and if they are to stand any chance of winning it they need everyone united behind the team, starting on Saturday.