FORMER Stevenage and Peterborough United manager Graham Westley is the new bookies favourite to take over at Newport County AFC and the club hierarchy are believed to be interested in talking to the 48-year-old.

Speaking after today’s home clash with Stevenage was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, County chairman of operations Gavin Foxall was asked about Westley.

And, while he declined to name any of the candidates to replace Warren Feeney, he did not rule out a move for Westley.

“We’re looking for someone who has that type of pedigree, that type of profile who can get us out of the difficult position that we’re in today,” said Foxall.

“We haven’t put a formal advert out but you still get a flood of applications from people who are interested in us and people that we’re interested in as well.

“The one thing that we’re clear about is that we’ve got to get it right so we’re going to take the appropriate time.

“We won’t have anybody in place for Tuesday. Sean McCarthy and James Bittner will take the game on Tuesday [at home to Swansea City under-23s in the EFL Trophy].

“What we’re doing over this weekend is speaking to a long list, we’ll get to a shortlist and we’ll do some formal interviews on Wednesday.

“And it’s highly likely that we’ll make an appointment on Thursday morning in time for Colchester away on the Saturday.”

He added: “It’s difficult for me to name any names. It wouldn’t be fair to individuals. We want to conduct the process properly.

“We’ve got to be realistic as well; we’re bottom of the league and it’s not going to be an easy task for anybody coming in.

“We’ve got to take that into account with profile of the person we’re looking for and we’re going through that process now.”

Foxall said the decision to sack Feeney after Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat at Grimsby Town, which left the Exiles bottom of League Two, was a difficult one.

“As a board we didn’t take the decision lightly,” he said. “Warren Feeney’s work ethic was second to none, as was Andy Todd’s.

“Throughout the summer with the players he brought in and the preparation that he did you couldn’t fault.

“Warren is a genuine guy and it was a difficult decision to make and to implement.

“I spoke to him on Wednesday morning and it was a very difficult decision to make.

“But they understand that it’s a results business. It’s not personal.

“The table doesn’t lie and we’re in a difficult position.

“We felt as a board that we had to make that change because the club cannot afford not to be in the Football League.

“If you look at the performances I don’t think we’d disagree that we weren’t that far away but the bottom line is that it’s a results business.

“If you don’t get enough points to stay in this league you won’t be in this league and this football club can’t afford not to be in this league, both financially and indeed in other things like the academy.

“And Warren, as the professional he is, he understands that and he understands it’s not personal.”