HEAD coach Craig Warlow insists there is no apathy at Newport towards the club playing the remainder of the season in tier two of the Principality Premiership.

The WRU’s decision to split the league in two, which will lead to champions of both sections being crowned in May, has come in for criticism from many in the game.

The second portion of the campaign begins tonight with a bottom-half clash between Cardiff and Neath – Newport travel to Bridgend tomorrow (kick-off 2.30pm).

Warlow’s Newport, who finished the first batch of Premiership games 10th of the 16 clubs, have four home fixtures and three away in the seven that remain.

After this weekend, the Black and Ambers go to Bargoed and then entertain Cardiff, before they travel to Neath.

They end the season with Swansea, Llanelli and Cross Keys visiting Rodney Parade, the scene of their cup triumph over Swansea last Wednesday.

“Looking at the way the fixtures are, we are away for three of our first four and then home for the run-in,” said Warlow. “It’s important we start well.

“We didn’t start well in the first block of league games and that put us under pressure as the season went on.”

He added: “I feel there seems to be a real apathy towards tier two from the media, and perhaps rightly so because the teams in tier one are evidently better.

“But Newport haven’t won anything for a long time and there is a chance to get into the semi-finals and final, and lift a trophy, and to do something that would make everyone at the club happy.

“There is obviously no apathy on our part, the same goes for the cup.”

As for the WRU National Cup, Newport will face a tough second round tie at Pontypridd on February 18.

Meanwhile, Bridgend, one of Warlow’s former clubs, finished three places and 11 points below Newport before the split.