NEW manager James Rowberry will not be bringing his own staff into Newport County AFC – and has confirmed that Wayne Hatswell is staying as his right-hand man.

A new era starts at Bristol Rovers in League Two tomorrow afternoon but there will be just one change in the Exiles dugout.

Rowberry will call the shots for the first time after leaving his role as first team coach at Cardiff City to become County manager.

He has inherited a strong squad and also a close-knit staff that was built by former boss Michael Flynn, who formed a double act with Hatswell.

The assistant, whose current contract runs until the end of the season, held the reins while the Exiles conducted their hunt for a manager and led them to a win over Scunthorpe and draws against Bradford, Exeter and Carlisle.

The 46-year-old is a close friend of Rowberry and said after his final game as caretaker boss that he was open to staying on, followed by the new boss saying he held “positive talks” with him on Wednesday.

South Wales Argus: County boss James RowberryCounty boss James Rowberry

“That is in the process [of being sorted] and Wayne is going to be with me,” said Rowberry ahead of his first full training session with County’s squad this morning.

Asked if he would bring anyone else in, he said: "I won't be, the staff that I have got is the staff that I will work with.

“I am very comfortable with the group of staff that I have got. I have known Wayne for over 10 years, Jarred [Harvey, coach] worked at Cardiff with me and I have known Jim [Hollman, goalkeeping coach] from the coaching scene because he was at Cardiff with Malky Mackay.

“I put the physios, sport science department and Jason [Windsor] our analyst in that – they are a really good group of people.

“I am really pleased with the people that we have got... not forgetting Leeky [Neil Leek] by the way, the most important of the club because you get the kit from him!”

On that front, Rowberry has pledged to be a tracksuit manager.

“I think my mates would give me a bit of stick if I rocked up in a shirt and tie being from Newport and managing Newport County,” he said. “I’ll be in a tracksuit and stick to what I know!”

Rowberry spoke with the full squad on Wednesday before holding a session for those that didn’t face Carlisle plus some development squad players.

He not only has a strong staff but a core of experienced stalwarts that he intends to lean on.

“I have spoken to Matty Dolan a lot in the last couple of days and Mark O’Brien is in the building, and it’s good to have him around,” he said.

“We’ve got the likes of Mickey Demetriou, Scot Bennett, Robbie Willmott, Joe Day, Ed Upson, Jamie Clarke as senior pros.

“They are a really humble group of lads that want to be successful and I get the impression that they want to engage in the journey that we want to go on.

“First and foremost we do have to get results but I genuinely believe if we built on processes that we have got in place then they will keep coming.”