Joe Jones: Alan Hardy and Kevin Nolan have brought hope back to Notts County

Amazing how much can change in just a number of weeks, eh? In fact, make that a number of days.

The first week of 2017 saw Notts County's freefall into oblivion continue to pick up speed with eight goals conceded in their League Two fixtures at Cambridge United and Morecambe, consecutive league defeats number nine and ten, while Alan Hardy's takeover was reportedly in danger of collapsing.

Then the takeover was completed as the old was out and the new was in, thank the gods and the stars and everything else that could be thanked. But was it too little too late?

Then Kevin Nolan was appointed as manager. Some hailed the news, others thought he may have been too inexperienced. More tension.

Then came the derby and it ended a goalless draw, which signalled an end to the rotten losing run and allowed Notts to save face against a local rival who has had our pants down on way too many occasions in the last few years.

As January ticked on, the transfer embargo was still not lifted, while the defeat at Grimsby Town proved more bad news. Was the draw just a blip? We still hadn't won in bloody ages.

Then Notts beat Crawley Town around the same time as the embargo was officially lifted, which boosted the atmosphere no end. But would we have enough time to bring in players, and would they be good enough for the job? And would Jon Stead leave the club, as it was rumoured?

As it turned out, the players brought in appeared promising enough, while Stead stayed put at Meadow Lane. All good so far.

Up next, another downturn. Accrington Stanley sealed a 2-0 win at the start of February, and suddenly it was out of County's hands - the two teams below us had games in hand.

But soon, the highs again (though by no means easy rides). A great first half against Cheltenham Town and a perseverence which allowed the Magpies to hang onto their lead, 2-1 the final score.

Then, seemingly another crushing defeat as Exeter City led 2-0 with 88 minutes played, but out of nowhere, Notts struck twice in injury time to salvage a point.

And this weekend, another two-goal lead, another occasion of being pegged back, but another late goal and resolve to see out the win, and Notts left Leyton Orient with all three points and in the process kneecapped a relegation rival.

As it stands, Notts sit four points clear of the bottom two, with Orient in 23rd and Newport County at the foot of the table.

Even skeptics like myself, who have seen enough false dawns to immediately tell myself not to get excited if things begin going right, have been pretty much won over by the Hardy-Nolan revolution.

We're talking a team that had spent the majority of the season prior to February disgracing itself on the pitch under some of the most toxic conditions ever to encircle a football club, finally getting their act together, playing under a new lease of life.

Sure, it's not over until the fat lady sings (as Exeter found to their surprise when they posted on social media that they had sealed up the win #eggonface), and there is still work to be done to secure this damned safety once and for all.

But under Nolan, Notts are a team transformed. Previous liabilities like Richard Duffy are now putting in performances worthy of man of the match, new signings like Marc Bola and Jorge Grant are impressing, Jon Stead is now scoring by the bucketload again, and best of all, being at Meadow Lane is no longer seen as an ordeal, torture even - the atmosphere is nice again.

Prior to Hardy and Nolan's arrival, Notts were hopeless. Many fans had accepted their fate as a non-league side in 2017-18. But now, there is hope again. Hope of safety, hope of once again having pride in their team.

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