ARSENE Wenger aside, the notion of a ‘permanent manager’ at any football club is an antiquated term.

The last two Premier League-winning managers have failed to see out the following season at the champions and even Great Escape gaffers don’t have a guarantee of a job for life.

But, having guided his hometown club to safety in the most extraordinary fashion on Saturday night, it will come as no surprise when Michael Flynn is unveiled this morning.

Exactly two months on from his appointment as caretaker boss until the end of the campaign, the County board are rightly putting their faith in Flynn as the man to take the club into next season.

And, after the remarkable revival he has orchestrated over the past 12 games, chairmen Gavin Foxall and Malcolm Temple would have a riot on their hands if they gave the job to anyone else.

Newport born and bred, Flynn knows exactly what this club means to the people of the city and he has earned the right to have the word ‘caretaker’ removed from his job title.

He is the best possible man at this time to take care of the club’s future because he really does care – just ask his wife Victoria, who has had to live with him over the past few months.

"It’s just sinking in now,” he told me at Rodney Parade yesterday. "I’ve been scrolling through all the messages and tweets and everything else that I’ve received since Saturday.

"It’s great that people take the time out to congratulate you because it means a lot.

“But the players have got to improve next year because we don’t want to be down near the bottom again.

“The hard work starts now. We’ve got to get up that table because I don’t want another end to the season like this.

“The last two weeks have been a nightmare, if I’m honest.

“It’s tense, you can’t relax and you feel sick around your house.

“You’re walking up and down the living room and my missus is going crazy telling me to calm down and relax.

“I was calm in front of the boys but sometimes it does get to you.

“That’s because I knew what it meant to everybody.

“I will be going on holiday soon,” he added. “It’s booked with the family.

“I have to treat the wife – she’s been suffering in silence over the last few weeks but she’s been amazing, really supported me and helped me and that’s why I married her.”

Mrs Flynn can expect more stressful Saturdays and tense Tuesdays throughout next season and, hopefully, beyond.

But before that and, even before that well-deserved break, the Exiles boss has work to do in keeping the core of the squad together.

He will be desperate to avoid a repeat of the past two summers at Rodney Parade when first Terry Butcher and then Warren Feeney basically rebuilt the squad from scratch.

After the incredible run of seven wins in 12 games to pull of the near-impossible, County need to keep this group together if possible and build on that precious momentum.

Scot Bennett, Dan Butler, Jamie Turley, Joss Labadie, Mark Randall, Sean Rigg and Aaron Williams are all already contracted for next season and that gives Flynn a head-start on his predecessors.

The status of Ryan Bird, Tom Owen-Evans, Kieran Parselle, Finlay Wood and James Bittner is unclear but I would expect all to stay on.

Darren Jones, Craig Reid, Paul Bignot, Mitch Rose, Jennison Myrie-Williams, Ben Tozer and Marlon Jackson are all out of contract and could well be on their way out of the club this week.

Lenell John-Lewis and Jazzi Barnum-Bobb are also at the end of their current deals.

I would not be surprised to see them offered new terms.

South Wales Argus:

But Saturday’s goal heroes Mark O’Brien (above) and Mickey Demetriou and goalkeeper Joe Day – my player of the season – may prove tougher to tie down.

Flynn would love to keep all three but they are bound to have offers to move on and will almost certainly take a little time to consider their options.

Flynn was deep in conversation with O’Brien after the Irishman had done his media duties with Sky Sports and ITV Wales yesterday afternoon.

Hopefully he can convince the brilliantly bearded Dubliner to stay on, along with goal machine Demetriou and super stopper Day.

It seems inevitable that David Pipe will be signed up for one more season following his release by Eastleigh last week and most County fans will welcome him with open arms.

They’d love to see Swansea City youngsters Josh Sheehan and Alex Samuel return too and there may well be one or two Cardiff City boys who make the short journey along the M4.

Flynny, Wayne Hatswell and Lennie Lawrence have proved a formidable trio and between them and 20-odd players, they have put a smile back on the faces of County fans.

Let’s hope they and the smiles stay around for a good while yet.