Former Forest Green manager Mark Cooper is the leading contender to become boss of League Two Newport County.
Cooper is understood to have held talks with County sporting director Darren Kelly and is the frontrunner for the job at the League Two strugglers who sacked James Rowberry last week. Cooper’s assistant at Forest Green, Richard Dryden is expected to link up with his former Bristol City team-mate, the pair previously worked together at Tamworth, Notts County and Barrow.
Cooper left Barrow in March – winning eight of the 37 league games he took charge for at Barrow, but he did guide the club to the FA Cup third round earlier this season after they beat Ipswich Town in a replay.
They took Championship Barnsley to extra time in the third round before losing 5-4 at Oakwell.
Cooper led Swindon to the League One play-off final and then had five years at Forest Green Rovers, spearheading their promotion to the Football League.
