FORMER Newport County AFC star Tony James says new manager Terry Butcher would be making a big mistake if he got rid of coach Wayne Hatswell.

A dramatic week at the club has so far seen 14 players leaving Rodney Parade, while strength and conditioning coach James and goalkeeping coach Ryan Mackerness have followed them through the exit door.

Butcher is thought to be keen to recruit his former Ipswich Town and England teammate Russell Osman as his assistant and is also expected to bring in goalkeeping coach and scout Steve Marsella.

But James, who helped County to win promotion to the Football League as a player in 2013 before joining the coaching staff, says he would love to see Hatswell stay on.

“I can understand that Terry would want to bring his own people in,” said James.

“He must have decent contacts and he wants to start afresh.

“But it is a brave decision because you don’t have success without good players and we’ve had a great three years at County.

“Lots of the lads have gone and me and Ryan as well; it’s a big change. But it would be a real shame if Hats wasn’t kept on.

“He does so much work and is so good at his job that it would be a real waste if the club got rid of him as well.”

James played nearly 50 games for County after joining from Burton Albion in 2012 and was a key part of the defence that kept three clean sheets in the Conference play-offs to seal promotion in his first season.

He retired a few months after the Wembley victory over Wrexham to take up a role looking after his former teammates’ fitness.

“It’s been a really good time and a successful period for the club,” said James.

“We’ve had promotion followed by two really good seasons in League Two so I think we’ve done very well.

“It’s flown by and the highlight would obviously be winning at Wembley – it doesn’t get better than that!”

James, born in Cwmbran but now living in Hereford, is not sure what the future holds but he will certainly be keeping an eye on Butcher’s Rodney Parade revolution.

“I got a quick call from Terry on Wednesday morning and he just said ‘thanks for everything’ and that was pretty much it,” said the 36-year-old.

“I wish him all the best and really hope that he can continue the progress that the club has made in the last few years.

“I’ve got to decide what I’m going to do and whether I want to stay in football or not.

“It may be that I make the personal training full-time but I will definitely be back to see how County are getting on.”