NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn is a hero after pulling off the Great Escape but he has no doubt that he will be sacked if things go wrong next season.

Flynn, helped by coach Wayne Hatswell and adviser Lennie Lawrence, inspired a remarkable turnaround in form after replacing Graham Westley in the Rodney Parade hotseat in March.

The Exiles were 11 points from safety when Westley was axed and 12 points behind Hartlepool United, who were eventually relegated.

But Flynn’s men won seven of their last 12 games to avoid relegation, with Mark O’Brien’s last-gasp goal against Notts County sealing a 22nd-place finish in League Two on the final day.

The manager spent yesterday morning helping out at the club shop as fans snapped up Great Escape DVDs and other memorabilia.

But he’s determined that County won’t find themselves in a relegation battle next season.

And he’s well aware that if they are embroiled in another scrap at the wrong end of the table his hometown hero status will not save him from the chop.

“I’m not one to celebrate survival,” said Flynn. “That’s not what I’m about. I’m a winner and I want to win things.

“And I’ll make sure that next season Newport County won’t be in that position again.

“If they are I’m sure, as football is, I’ll probably be sacked.

“But that won’t happen. It’s not going to happen.”

The bookies are not so sure, however, with most predicting that County will not only be in a battle to beat the drop once again but that next season will see them fall through the trapdoor and out of the Football League.

Flynn’s men are rated as 100/1 shots to win League Two with Bet365 and 16/1 to win promotion.

And County are 7/2 second favourites to be relegated, with only Morecambe rated as more likely to go down at 2/1.

South Wales Argus:

Steve Evans’ Mansfield Town are the early frontrunners to win the title with most bookies.

The other favourites for promotion are Luton Town, National League champions Lincoln City and Coventry City and Swindon Town, who have both just been relegated from League One.

National League play-off winners Forest Green Rovers are 25/1 to win promotion and 5/1 to claim the League Two title next May.

Flynn is also busy trying to add to his squad and is hopeful of being able to announce another new signing soon.

The Exiles already have 16 players signed up for the 2016-2017 season.

Goalkeeper Joe Day is joined by defenders Dan Butler, Scot Bennett, Mark O’Brien, Mickey Demetriou, Jamie Turley, David Pipe and Jazzi Barnum-Bobb.

Midfielders Joss Labadie, Mark Randall, Ben Tozer, Tom Owen-Evans and Robbie Willmott are also under contract, as are forwards Sean Rigg, Aaron Williams and Marlon Jackson.

South Wales Argus:

Of last season’s squad, goalkeeper-coach James Bittner and winger Jennison Myrie-Williams (above) are the only two yet to be tied down or released.

Flynn told the Argus earlier this week that his main priority is to strengthen up front.

“We need a couple more strikers and maybe one or two elsewhere,” he said.

Meanwhile, midfielder Labadie had a successful operation to fix a wrist problem earlier this week and is expected to be fully recovered in time for the start of pre-season training.