Holdsworth in the frame

7:49am Wednesday 14th May 2008

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FORMER Newport County striker Dean Holdsworth has emerged as one of the favourites to land the manager's job at Spytty Park.

Exiles chairman Chris Blight is aiming to have the new man in place by Friday and, while Holdsworth has not yet been interviewed, the Argus understands he will meet with club directors either today or tomorrow.

The former Wimbledon and Bolton front man enjoyed a successful first season in the dugout at Ryman League Redbridge FC, leading them to third in the table and only missing out on promotion via the play-offs thanks to a penalty shootout defeat to Canvey Island.

Holdsworth admits he is ambitious and he still has fond memories of his time at County in the 2006-07 season when he scored three goals in just five starts and helped the side to reach the FAW Premier Cup final.

"I have really enjoyed my first season as a boss at Redbridge," he said. "We had half the budget of other teams in our league and did really well to get to the play-off final and it was heartbreaking to miss out on penalties.

"I have a good relationship with my chairman and he knows I am ambitious. If the right club comes along I'm sure we will shake hands and there will be no hard feelings.

"Newport County is a great club and one that deserves to be at a higher level. The fans are great and I had a fantastic time there as a player."

The 39-year-old Londoner was named manager-of-the-month three times in his debut season and has built up a formidable list of contacts in the non-league game in the last 12 months.

"Any club I managed I'd be looking to exploit my contacts and try to beg, borrow and steal players from the Conference South and above," he said.

"I am also still in contact with a lot of the lads I played with at Newport, especially Guppy (striker Craig Hughes) and they are a fantastic group of players.

"I spoke to my old boss Peter Beadle and wished him all the best," he added.

"He underachieved and he knows that but it was only three points on the last day.

"The margins in football are very small and I'm sure he'll bounce back."