PLAYER-COACH Michael Flynn is happy to be Graham Westley’s on field general if required as he aims to help his home town club avoid relegation from the Football League.

The 36-year-old, who re-registered as a player last month, made his first League Two start since May 2015 on Tuesday night.

And he played the full 90 minutes as Newport County AFC extended their unbeaten run to six matches with a 0-0 draw at home to Grimsby Town.

Flynn replaced Maxime Blanchard in the starting XI on Tuesday as the Frenchman was revealed to have left the club after making just one appearance.

And manager Westley was delighted with the veteran’s performance against the Mariners.

“Max was here game to game and his game to game lasted one game and he’s moved on,” said the Exiles boss.

“We wish him well but Flynny came in and I thought he was outstanding.

“For a player at 36 years of age and making his first start of the season I thought he was exceptional in the middle of the park.”

The former Wigan Athletic, Gillingham and Bradford City midfielder is now in his fourth spell as a County player having started off as a teenager at Spytty Park in the late 1990s.

And, while he may now be at the other end of his playing career, Flynn is determined to do all he can to keep the club in League Two.

“I’m not feeling too bad,” he said afterwards. “It was my first game at this level for 18 months so it was never going to be easy.

“I was glad to get the chance to pull on the shirt again and I’m disappointed we didn’t win but it was another step in the right direction with a solid clean sheet.

“I’ll always give 100 per cent whatever club I’m playing for but it’s something special with Newport.

“I’ll keep doing everything right to make sure I’m in good condition and if needed to help out the lads I will.”

Asked about combining his role as coach and a player, Flynn insisted he is used to being a leader on the pitch.

“Since I hit 30 I’ve always had that,” he said. “And I was captain at Gillingham at 26 so I’ve had that responsibility for a long time.

“I’m a coach now so there’s a little bit more of an onus on me to make sure I’m switched on and doing the right things and not having a go at them for doing something I haven’t done. I’m sure I can handle it.

“The lads were brilliant with me,” he added. “They listened and they had their own opinions on me and I’m all for that.

“Hopefully we’ll keep grinding it out and get some wins.”