CARETAKER manager Sean McCarthy is the man tasked with lifting Newport County AFC off the bottom of League Two tomorrow.

The 49-year-old from Bridgend, who joined County as first team coach in July, takes the reins at Rodney Parade along with goalkeeping coach James Bittner following the departures of manager Warren Feeney and assistant Andy Todd.

McCarthy was previously manager at Truro City, guiding them to the Southern League's Division One South and West title in 2009 before leaving by mutual consent six months later.

He has since coached at Ipswich Town and Plymouth Argyle, where he worked under former Exiles boss John Sheridan.

After a year out of the game he joined Feeney’s coaching team this summer as a replacement for Mike Flynn, who has since taken up a new role as football and business development director.

His playing career began at hometown club Bridgend Town in the early 1980s but he quickly moved on to Swansea City before enjoying spells at Plymouth Argyle and Bradford City.

His £500,000 move to Premier League club Oldham Athletic in December 1993 was the highlight of his playing days.

He is the most recent player to score a top flight goal for the Latics, netting in a 1-1 at Norwich City on the final day of the 1993-1994 season.

Oldham's failure to win that day cost them their Premier League status and they have never reached such heights again.

McCarthy also scored against champions Manchester United at Old Trafford in April 1994 and in home wins over Southampton and Queens Park Rangers as Joe Royle’s side battled unsuccessfully to preserve their top flight status.

He missed out on playing a part in the club’s run to the FA Cup semi-finals that year because he was cup-tied.

Following relegation McCarthy stayed at Boundary Park until 1998.

He then returned to Plymouth before moving on to Exeter City and winding down his career at non-league Taunton Town in the 2003-2004 season.

Bittner, aged 34, was player/goalkeeper coach at Plymouth last season before taking up the same role at County this summer.

He has been on the books at Fulham, AFC Bournemouth and Queens Park Rangers and has also played for Exeter City, Woking, Salisbury City, Forest Green Rovers and Hereford United since 2003.