Survival means so much for Newport, a club still scarred by the past

Survival means so much for Newport, a club still scarred by the pastImage source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyImage caption, Newport County were promoted to the EFL in 2013, 24 years after reformingByChris WathanBBC Sport WalesPublished3 minutes agoComments"You don't dare to think about it, really."And yet it feels that's all fans of Newport County have done this season.However hard they try and block it out on the five-plus hour bus trip to Barrow on Saturday, the prospect of relegation from the EFL will swirl around - just as it has for many others who have seen their side spend 25 of 45 match days in League Two's bottom two.The concern of the fans is shared by former players and managers, including Michael Flynn, the architect of Newport's 'Great Escape' in the 2016-17 season. "Unthinkable," is how local boy Flynn puts it – with the Exiles needing to win on the final day to guarantee league status, or risk leaving their fate in the hands of others.Naturally, no fan wants to see their side drop down, let alone into non-league.But for Newport in particular, it's deeper. It's more than the dent to pride and ego, the step out of the spotlight, or the slightly off-beat away days.As another former boss, John Relish, sums up: "It's the worry if we'd ever get back - and for a city the size of Newport not to have a club in the Football League, it would be a disaster. For the area, for the businesses, for the fan base – especially the fans – it all means so much."Fuchs urges Newport to take 'fire' out of Barrow gamePublished23 hours agoLeague Two title, promotion, play-offs and survival at stakePublished21 hours agoThe 110-minute game that may have rescued NewportPublished5 days agoRelish should know. The last time Newport were relegated in 1988 - after six decades of league football - they were wound up before even completing their first season in non-league. A heartbreaking auction of a...