COLIN Addison (pictured) could dramatically return to football management at Newport County as an advisor to Exiles boss Tim Harris.

And Addison, who was axed by cash-strapped Third Division club Swansea City due to financial reasons, fuelled that speculation as he was in the Director's Box at Newport Stadium in County's 1-0 Dr Martens Premier League defeat to struggling Hednesford Town yesterday.

A source close to Newport County said: "Colin Addison is in negotiation with County with a view to joining the club as an advisor to Tim Harris."

Ambitious County are keen to see Conference football return to the club and Exiles chiefs see Addison in a Director of Football-style role.

Addison, who managed the old Newport County on two separate occasions in their Football League days, has a wealth of footballing knowledge and an abundance of contacts in the game.

He and Harris have a friendship that goes back to the early 1980s during Addison second spell in charge at Somerton Park when the manager bought Harris during the current Newport boss' playing days.

Addison's Swansea beat County 3-0 in a FAW Premier Cup quarter-final back in January.

But, like his Newport-born assistant Peter Nicholas, Addison got the boot from the Vetchfield as the club could no longer afford to keep the pair even though they had worked footballing miracles to keep the Swans in Division Three mid-table security on a tight budget.

Newport, who were one of early season favourites for promotion to the promised land of the Conference, have hugely disappointed this term.

That, despite the signings of some high profile names including Jeff Eckhardt from Cardiff City, Billy Clark from Forest Green Rovers and one of non-league football's most lethal strikers Martin Paul.

And the recent departure of County's assistant manager Jason Perry means there is scope for another managerial body at Newport Stadium.

It remains to be seen though whether or not an experienced manager like Addison would want to have a managerial role at a non-league club.