Former Bristol Rovers manager departs League Two club by mutual consent after 20 months

Former Bristol Rovers manager Graham Coughlan has left Newport County by mutual consent with the League Two club stating that they're looking to move "in a different direction."

Coughlan was appointed by the Exiles in October 2022 and guided the Welsh outfit to an 18th place finish in the fourth tier last season having finished 15th the campaign prior.

However, they're now looking to head in an alternative direction with the upcoming season set to be their 12th consecutive campaign at League Two level with their highest finish fifth place in 2020/21 in which they lost the play-off final to Morecambe.

In a club statement released this morning, Newport chairman Huw Jenkins said: “I have total respect for Graham and found this decision particularly difficult to make considering all the hard work he has put in to help stabilise the club over the last 18 months.

“It goes without saying that I wish Graham every success in his future managerial career.

“However, moving forward I must take the club and the team in a different direction and stay true to my own beliefs which I feel over time will bring sustained success to Newport County and hopefully change the club’s outlook for many years ahead.’’

Coughlan spent just over a year in charge at Rovers between 2018 and 2019 having been previously been assistant manager to Darrell Clarke for a brief period. The Gas finished 15th in League One in the 2018/19 campaign but saw the Irishman depart in the first half of the following campaign with Rovers sat fourth in the third tier to take charge of League Two Mansfield Town.

The Gas faced Coughlan's Newport side last season in the EFL Trophy, winning 1-0 at Rodney Parade during Andy Mangan's stint as caretaker manager.