Baptism of fire awaits Rocks' caretaker boss

It was only 15 months ago, but seems like much longer. Since then, Michael Birmingham has taken on the manager's job and left and so has Mick Jenkins.

What's more, not one of the players who earned a 2-2 draw on that occasion is still at the club.

Caretaker boss Darin Killpartrick remembers the trip well as he looks forward to returning.

"It was a very sad day '“ a real end of an era when Jack announced to the team he was tepping down. We got a decent result that day and would love to do so again this season.

"It's a very hostile place to go. I've been called names there that I've had to go away and look up the meaning of."

The importance of the game is obvious when you look at the bottom six. Newport are in the struggling group, although they're ten points ahead of the Rocks, who visit relegation-haunted Basingstoke next Saturday.

Killpartrick won't know his line-up until after Thursday's training session but said: "It's a baptism of fire for my first game as caretaker manager, but I wouldn't want it any other way."

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