Newport County boss Michael Flynn denies rumours of Tom King bust-up

After a superb start to the season, with eight clean sheets in his first 12 appearances, King was called into Ryan Giggs’ Wales squad in November.

But the 24-year-old, a summer signing from Millwall, has found himself playing second fiddle to Nick Townsend ever since.

King’s only game-time for County between the FA Cup draw at Grimsby Town on November 9 and Sunday’s League Two draw with Leyton Orient, was a penalty shootout win over Brighton & Hove Albion under-21s in the Leasing.com Trophy.

That led to speculation that the goalkeeper and manager had fallen out, but Flynn is adamant that there was no rift.

“If I answered every rumour to you, I’d be going doolally,” said the Exiles boss.

“There’s been no falling out with anybody in this squad, this team, this management team, me, the board, Lennie – nobody has had a big falling out.

“Do we have arguments at times? Do players and managers not agree on things? Of course, but I’ve got a group who respect my decisions because I tell them the truth – why they’re not playing or why they should be playing.

“That’s it. And there were no rumours going around when we were winning were there?”

Flynn was happy with King’s performance against Orient, despite his team conceding after just 60 seconds.

“He made two good saves and he kicked reasonably well,” he said.

“He would have been fuming, conceding so early, because he wants clean sheets.

“I told him that he had to be patient. He might have played at Exeter, but he was ill.

“He came to see me before the game to tell me he couldn’t play, but he’s in now and it’s up to him to keep the shirt.”

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