I APPRECIATE it will never be a popular view among the diehard fans, but for now Cardiff City should be viewed as friend and not foe of Newport County AFC.

Social media in South Wales was always likely to be lively on a day when Cardiff and Swansea met for the very first time in the top flight, but there was a surprising amount (to me) of anti-Cardiff sentiment from County fans.

Frankly, as followers of the Exiles, at this time, Cardiff versus Swansea is none of our business. May it be a good advertisement for Welsh football as a spectacle - it wasn't - and may the best team win.

For many decades, Cardiff and to a lesser extent Swansea have been major rivals of Newport County. I don't contest that.

However, while Newport County AFC may have some supporters who retain the animosity, any anti-Cardiff stance is totally detrimental at this time.

This season alone, Newport have benefitted from multiple friendly matches with the Bluebirds and have also agreed a loan signing when they really needed it.

In a few days, weeks, or even months, when the seemingly untenable and ridiculous situation Malky Mackay faces at Cardiff reaches its inevitable conclusion, no doubt certain County fans will rejoice.

But it'll be a bad moment for County too. Who knows who will replace Mackay and what direction Cardiff will head?

Mackay and his assistant David Kerslake's friendship with Edinburgh will be impossible to replicate. It's currently a tremendous link for the Exiles. When Edinburgh is down in South Wales, it's super company to keep.

As for the so-called rivalry, Newport County AFC haven't earned it yet.

Do County consider Merthyr rivals? Are they a team we'd despise?

Absolutely not. But in terms of the divisions they've been in during recent decades, County and Merthyr are lot closer than County and Cardiff.

Newport and Cardiff will only be true rivals again if they compete on anything resembling a level playing field. Cardiff can only be rivals to Newport if they want to be.

As it is, most Cardiff fans I know, if they have any feeling at all about the Exiles, it is that they wish them well.

For any rivalry to re-exist, Newport must earn it. Knock Cardiff out of a cup. Get to within a division of them. Make them care about you.

County certainly don't need Cardiff's help in order to succeed. But that doesn't mean having it and being friend and not foe of a Premier League club isn't a tremendous asset.