David Hughes: Sacking as Newport County manager was ‘on its way’

“I’ve seen and read certain match reports and it was definitely on its way unless he could do something miraculous and put a set of wins together which got them off the bottom, out of trouble and up the league then this day was coming. It was unavoidable really.”

Welshman Hughes, 47, was appointed Newport boss in May, stepping down as a youth coach at Manchester United in order to take his first senior managerial role.

But he has endured a miserable spell at Rodney Parade, with Newport’s inexperienced squad struggling to deliver results amid fan criticism of chairman Huw Jenkins’ recruitment policy.

“It was always going to be a difficult first senior role in management for David,” former Wales defender and captain Gabbidon told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

“He will probably have known that going into the situation as well.

“I don’t think he’s probably been given the backing that he thought he would get in terms of the type of player he’s been able to bring in.

“He’s had that remit as well in terms of maybe the style of play that the owner [Jenkins] wants to see from the team. David is obviously very similar with that, hence why he was brought in.

“But at the end of the day results dictate so he would have know himself the pressure he was under to get results and stay in the job, unfortunately he’s not been able to do that.

“It’s going to be interesting to see where Newport go from here.”

Hughes’ exit leaves Newport looking for a fifth permanent boss since Mike Flynn – who is currently out of work – departed in 2021.

“I doubt whether the owner [Jenkins] would have made the decision without having someone in place,” Blake added.

“Whether that’s Mike Flynn I don’t know, but I’m sure we’ll get to know soon enough.”

Newport’s next game is away to mid-table Oldham Athletic on Saturday, 22 November, although there has been no indication from the club if a new manager might be in place by then.