CAPTAIN Andy Sandell says the players believe Jimmy Dack and Wayne Hatswell can still lead Newport County AFC to promotion this season.

Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at AFC Wimbledon – the first match since manager Justin Edinburgh jumped ship for Gillingham – was a fourth successive loss for County.

But Sandell insists the players are fully behind caretaker boss Dack and coach Hatswell and believe they will get the team back to winning ways – starting with tonight’s home clash with Tranmere Rovers.

“Obviously we’re not on good form at the moment but things off the field are hopefully sorted now so we can look to kick on,” said the skipper.

“Our aim is still the same and that’s promotion.

“Hopefully Jimmy and Hats stay in charge because we all believe in them and they can help us achieve our aims.

“We don’t know what will happen but the players hope they get the chance because they know the club and I thoroughly believe they can take us forward.”

County remain sixth in League Two but a fifth straight defeat tonight could see them drop out of the play-off spots.

“We’re here on merit because of what we’ve done so far,” said Sandell. “Every team has a blip and this is ours but we’re big enough and ugly enough to get ourselves out of this and get on another run.

“We have to stick together now and hopefully the fans stay with us and we get some results.

“We’re not getting the rub of the green at the moment but we lost four at the start of the season and we turned it round.

“We’ve done it once and we can go on a run again with the ability we’ve got in the dressing room.

“Maybe Jimmy and Wayne can go to the loan market and get one or two fresh faces in to push us on and that would be great.”

Sandell told the Argus last month that Gillingham would not be a step up for Edinburgh but he now says he understands his former boss’ decision to leave.

“It’s closer to his home and it’s a higher league so if that’s what he wants to do then good luck to him,” he added.

“He’s been here for three and a half years. We were second bottom of the Conference when he signed me and look where we are now.

“He’s done a great job. He deserves his chance at a higher level and hopefully he does well at Gillingham and takes them to where they want to go.”