Hayden Mullins takes charge of Newport County ahead of League Two opener

Newport County entered their 14th consecutive League Two campaign after Christian Fuchs stepped down just before pre-season training. The club hired former Fulham U21 manager Hayden Mullins, a former Crystal Palace and West Ham United midfielder, to replace him. Mullins' debut competitive match was a Carabao Cup first-round tie against AFC Wimbledon, which ended in a 5-4 penalty defeat after a late equaliser, yet he pointed to numerous encouraging signs.

Early contributions have come from new signing Yahya Bamba, who opened scoring with a long-range strike, and Bournemouth loanee Alfie Merritt, praised for his display against Roma. Mullins indicated further recruitment is possible and pledged to make Rodney Parade a tougher venue, aiming to reverse a season that yielded only five home wins. The Exiles begin their league schedule against newly promoted Rochdale on Saturday, 15 August, with Mullins urging fans to support the side.