MANAGER Peter Beadle accepts he is likely to be sacked if Newport County's losing streak continues.
Beadle, who just two-and-half weeks ago was celebrating winning the FAW Premier Cup, believes tomorrow's Blue Square South trip to Bognor Regis Town (kick-off 3pm) is the Exiles' biggest game of the season.
Three defeats in six days in an Easter of disaster for Beadle's boys has seen County slip to eleventh in the Blue Square South, six points off the playoffs and a shot at the promised land of the Conference.
With two games in hand and eight games remaining, County have all to play for and Beadle is determined to answer his growing band of critics.
He explained: "Throughout the season I have said I would always judge my players on performances, I accept now that we will live and die by our results.
"Getting wins in the remaining fixtures is the be-all and end-all, my job is definitely under threat.
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"Tomorrow has become the biggest game of our season, the powers that be will look at the game on Saturday and decide the best options available to them to achieve promotion.
"The reality is we've had a terrible week. If at this stage you lose three in five or six that is one thing, but we lost three games in six days and people are bound to be disappointed. "
Publicly, the Newport County board of directors have shown their support to the players and Beadle in particular with a gesture of goodwill to supporters.
In an e-news to fans that is more a call to arms than a press release, the board have pledged to pay ALL coach away travel for the remainder of the campaign.
In the statement, which can be read in full on our website, the directors offer to pay for the travel so the fans can be County's "twelfth man."
However, despite the public backing, Beadle is certainly in the firing line with supporters at the moment, his thoughts on the subject surprisingly understanding.
"We have paid the price for raising expectations, I see why supporters are frustrated, because for two seasons we've been very competitive," he said.
The boss won't accept one criticism though: "What I will not agree about or acknowledge is the notion that this is the same old County.'
"This is not the same Newport County. Two years ago we all had wild celebration at staying up on the final day, the same as the year before.
"We've come a long way since then and the players don't deserve to hear it's the same old County,' even after losing three games."
Beadle has been criticised for not strengthening his squad, but is adamant his transfer policy is the right one.
"The reality is that £600 a week strikers aren't available at this time of the season," he said.
"People have a go at the older players in the squad, but they've been invaluable and each year we strive to bring in younger players for the long-term," he said.
"This group of players have achieved a lot and I believe in them, but we are always looking to strengthen if we can bring in players on a contract for the long-term."
County welcome back Mark Dodds (bereavement), Ian Hillier (hamstring) and have Andy Gurney available as his suspension doesn't start for another eight days.
Paul Cochlin and Craig Hughes (both knee) are also in with a chance of returning, both monitored at training last night.
Beadle also revealed goalkeeper Glyn Thompson is fit to start if selected.
Posted by: neil.cork, newport on 11:32am Fri 28 Mar 08
At last I think Beadle has finally woken up. He says a good striker is what we need, I disagree I feel that we need to change the way we play, we have good strikers in Hughes and Griffin just give them the correct service to give them a chance of scoring . Stop pumping 'Root One Balls' to them , get the ball on the ground, use our talented wide men and create more goal scoring chances.
At last I think Beadle has finally woken up. He says a good striker is what we need, I disagree I feel that we need to change the way we play, we have good strikers in Hughes and Griffin just give them the correct service to give them a chance of scoring . Stop pumping 'Root One Balls' to them , get the ball on the ground, use our talented wide men and create more goal scoring chances.
Posted by: CountyRob, Newport on 3:07pm Fri 28 Mar 08
We must stick with Beadle and Youngie, we have come a long way in the short term, if we make the play offs who knows what can[quote]quote[/quote] [quote]quote[/quote] happen, what we msut do though is look to the future and reduce the average age of the squad.
We must stick with Beadle and Youngie, we have come a long way in the short term, if we make the play offs who knows what can
quote
quote
happen, what we msut do though is look to the future and reduce the average age of the squad.
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