NEWPORT County AFC have appointed Graham Coughlan as manager on a contract until at least 2025.

The 47-year-old has been chosen to replace James Rowberry, who was sacked as manager last week after a poor start in League Two.

The Exiles' new boss will be in the dugout for Saturday’s vital game with fellow strugglers Colchester at Rodney Parade, assisted by first team coach Jarred Harvey.

Coughlan was a central defender in his playing days, becoming a club legend at Plymouth, before cutting his coaching teeth at Bristol Rovers in 2018.

He was promoted to the top job and was a hit with the Gas, leading them to fourth in League One before moving to Mansfield to be closer to his family in Yorkshire in December 2019.

A poor start to the 2020/21 campaign led to Coughlan being dismissed by the Stags, where he looks set to return as boss of County on Tuesday.

Coughlan had most recently been coaching with Sheffield United’s Under-23s.

County interviewed candidates earlier this week and it had been reported that ex-Forest Green boss Mark Cooper was frontrunner but the Exiles have gone with Coughlan.

He will take over a team sitting 19th in the table, two points off bottom.