Chris Hughes on play-off hopes for Newtown after reaching unlikely final
Newtown, Wales 13 March 2021. JD Cymru Premier Match between Newtown AFC and Cardiff Metropolitan University. © Will Cheshire
Newtown manager Chris Hughes says that he would have taken today’s play-off final if it was presented to him at the start of the season.
The Robins face Caernarfon Town at The Oval for a place in the Europa Conference League after the two claimed away victories against higher opposition.
Today’s hosts beat Barry Town United 3-1 at Jenner Park, meanwhile Newtown beat Penybont 1-0 last Sunday.
Both sides are competing for the prize of not only European football but the windfall which comes with play-off glory.
And after a year of playing behind-closed-doors where clubs have had to manage their finances carefully, the Newtown boss
“It’s a final and whenever you get to that stage of the competition you need to win that,” said Hughes.
“With everything that’s gone on this year, with everything that we have and every club has had in terms of testing and procedures with the following protocols.
“We’ve had a couple of positive tests ourselves where we have had to do self-isolations as a group.
“With the lockdown and firebreaks happening I would have snapped your hand if we were in this situation come to the end of the season.
“It’s the be-all and end-all if you like the buck stops here, we need to make sure that we perform and we deliver.”
Newtown has been a regular in the playoffs scene with Chris Hughes at the helm.
Newtown finished last season in the playoffs but didn’t get the opportunity to play in it following games not being played due to covid.
“In my time as manager, this is the seventh time we have reached the play-offs in my last eight seasons in charge of Newtown.
“We’re part of a certain amount of clubs whose main priority is to stay in the division and then see what happens.
At the end of Phase One, Newtown looked unlikely to secure the final playoff spot. They had trailed Haverfordwest who had almost secured a top six spot by ten points.
However they managed to claw back that deficit on the Bluebirds and in the end strolled into the end-of-season play-offs after a good run of form.
“From that, the momentum and the confidence helped us to come where we are now. We have to credit the players but also the staff as the team behind the team gets forgotten about.
Newtown vs Caernarfon is one of the biggest games in Caernarfon history and Chris Hughes’s side could damper the hopes of those fans.
“The prize of European football for either side especially in a time where fans can’t attend the prize money will help significantly.
It’s important especially with everything, in the last year with revenue down due to no spectators in and clubhouse not being open.
“I’m sure my finance director will be delighted coming Saturday, even if we’re in Europe for various reasons.
From our point of view, we just really focus on the football side of it, making sure that we get the best out of ourselves and focus at noon on Saturday.
