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Joe Jones
Alan Hardy has revealed that Notts County will not break even before 2022, but admits that he is thoroughly enjoying the challenge of being chairman and has no regrets.
Hardy said Notts were losing £1.6m a year when he took over in January, but insisted the club was making progress off the pitch after having put things right on it.
"It is step in the right direction, but it is still a lot of money we are losing every year. The whole business model has to change," Hardy told BBC Radio Nottingham.
"While I am thoroughly enjoying it, the challenge is immense. It is made very special by the success on the pitch and the great job Kev has been doing, but it has been hard work.
"I don't regret it, but it is much tougher than I thought. I am having a great time - and it helps that we have been successful. If we were in the bottom two then maybe it would be a different story.
"But this is five-year plan and it will be five years before we break even. We have to do more off-pitch stuff, more commercial stuff, to support the football side."
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Joe Jones
Notts County goalkeeper Scott Loach has expressed surprise that Vadaine Oliver did not remain at Meadow Lane or switch to another Football League club in January.
Oliver completed a loan switch to the Magpies at the start of the season, but returned to parent club York City early in the year after one goal in 25 appearances.
Since then, he has scored five times and recorded four assists in 14 outings for the Minstermen, who are in the National League.
Loach, who has made a loan switch to Bootham Crescent, told the York Press: “I can’t believe Vadaine didn’t stay at Notts County or isn’t playing at another League club, but there are some good players at this level when you look at the likes of Newts (Sean Newton) as well.
“Dagenham also had some decent lads on Saturday, as do clubs like Lincoln and Forest Green. But that’s football - where you play can sometimes come down to other circumstances.
“Not only is Vadaine a good target man, but he also works hard and keeps going. If he doesn’t win the first header, he goes for the next one and I think it will be good for him learning off Jon Parkin, who’s a similar player, but has been there and done it.”
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Joe Jones
Kevin Nolan has reiterated that Notts County must not get into the mindset of having done their job following their 1-0 win at Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.
Shola Ameobi's goal proved enough for the Magpies to claim all three points at Adams Park, putting them 13 points clear of the League Two relegation zone.
Many Notts fans have breathed a sigh of relief at the distance between the club and basement sides Newport County and Leyton Orient, whose recent form has been wretched to say the least.
However, Nolan previously said that he doesn't want to consider Notts safe from relegation until it is mathematically impossible for them to slip back into the bottom two.
Now, the manager has made it known that he wants the players to prove themselves from now until the end of the season, making a hint towards seeing who will make the cut in the summer.
Nolan told the Nottingham Post: "We need momentum going into next year. We don't want to be now thinking we are safe and then just tail off and think the season has ended.
"No, I want to see what these lads have got from now until the end of the season because there are a lot of decisions to be made once we know are safe. I don't think we can afford to take our foot off the pedal."
Up next for Notts is Saturday's League Two home clash with Colchester United, game number 40 of the season.
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Joe Jones
The feelgood factor around Notts County continues as Shola Ameobi praised his teammates, in particular strike partner Jon Stead, as well as miracle worker Kevin Nolan.
The Magpies are 13 points clear of the League Two bottom two with seven games to go, and although safety is not mathematically certain, it has allowed fans to breathe a lot easier, in particular with the downturn in form of basement sides Newport County and Leyton Orient.
Ameobi, who scored the winner in County's 1-0 win at high-flying Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday, told the Nottingham Post: "Jonny did brilliantly down the right and all I had to do was put it in.
"He did most of the work so it's a great feeling, but an even greater feeling knowing we have got the three points.
"We have a lot of experience and hopefully still a little bit of quality in there as well. The more we play together, the more we understand each other's games which is helping.
"But as a team we are evolving. There is a progression and the manager is doing a lot of work in the background and on the training pitch in which he is cultivating a way to play.
"You can see that more and more. We've got it at home but it's about bringing it away which is what he wanted to see at Wycombe.
"We are just delighted that we are able to put up a fight first and foremost, but the defence and Richard Duffy and Haydn Hollis were brilliant at snuffing them out and keeping us out the box.
"It's great to obviously score the goal and for it to be the winner, but the performance, given we have struggled away from home, was excellent.
"The manager has tried to instil the ability to come away from Meadow Lane and that the type of performances we need is the one we showed at Wycombe.
"We want to keep this run going now. We've only lost once in the last eight or nine games and you can see there is a lot of confidence in the boys now in the team and its shape.
"It's great when you get the wins, but it's a continued progression and building on what we have done so far.
"Our home record has been great, and it would be nice to keep that going against Colchester at Meadow Lane on Saturday."
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Joe Jones
Shola Ameobi scored the only goal as Notts County took another step towards survival in League Two thanks to a 1-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park on Saturday.
The former Newcastle United forward's 27th-minute strike proved the winner against Gareth Ainsworth's Chairboys and put the Magpies 13 points clear of the bottom two.
With just seven games left and basement sides Newport County and Leyton Orient in torrid form, the general consensus among the Black and White Army is that their beloved club will still be playing League Two football next season.
The official Notts County YouTube page has shared the highlights of the game against Wycombe - see for yourself how Kevin Nolan's boys did.
 
Joe Jones
Kevin Nolan has described Notts County's performance in their 1-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers as "absolutely fantastic", but is not getting carried away with regards to the issue of League Two safety.
The Magpies are now 13 points clear of the division's bottom two after Shola Ameobi netted the winner in Saturday's victory at Adams Park.
With Newport County and Leyton Orient struggling for form and entrenched in the relegation places with just seven games to go, many Notts fans and pundits - including Mark Stallard - have breathed a sigh of relief and declared the club to be safe.
However Nolan, despite his delight with his players, does not want to take his foot off the pedal, telling the Nottingham Post: "We are still not mathematically safe and it's not done until done.
"But I was just so pleased with what we put on show. I thought we were absolutely fantastic. We really nullified Wycombe and their strengths. We were very worthy of the win.
"I was thrilled with the way we went about it because we didn't let them build momentum. It was a fantastic result because we've not only won the game, but we have kept a clean sheet as well against a team who pose a real attacking threat.
"We knew they were going to throw everything at us but I felt we dealt it with it very well. They had few half chances but it was tricky because the conditions were difficult.
"There was wind and the surface was a bit bobbly. But we played it very well and I am delighted to a man with all the lads. It was an excellent performance."
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Joe Jones
Shola Ameobi scored the only goal as Notts County took another step towards survival in League Two thanks to a 1-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park on Saturday.
Both sides traded chances in a frantic opening to the match with Jon Stead forcing a brilliant save from Jamal Blackman, before Luke O'Nien blazed over from seven yards.
The midfielder was then denied a goal by a terrific block by Richard Duffy.
It proved a crucial intervention as Kevin Nolan's charges scored from their next attack when Ameobi rattled home via the post, following some brilliant work by Stead just before the half-hour mark.
Wycombe tried to claw their way back into the game and could have drawn level when Adebayo Akinfenwa volleyed wide of the post.
The hosts then appealed for a penalty when Myles Weston went down in the box but referee Ross Joyce waved play on as the Magpies held on to claim all three points and go 13 points clear of the bottom two.
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Joe Jones
Kevin Nolan has urged the Notts County players to build on their impressive home form by translating it to away fixtures as well.
The Magpies are 10 points clear of the bottom two in League Two and head to Wycombe Wanderers hoping to extend that gap by securing victory over Gareth Ainsworth's side.
All of Nolan's defeats so far have come on the road, but with eight games left of the season, the manager is eager to build on that aspect over the next few weeks, beginning at Adams Park on Saturday.
"Hopefully we can now start taking our home form away," he told the Nottingham Post.
"We've got to get that balance right. We can't go away and play open expansive football all the time.
"There are going to be moments in games when you can do it, but there are others when you realise it's not possible.
"Game management is what we are working on and that's when to sit in and let them play in front of us, or when do we open up and have a go.
"I am learning along the way about the lads and we are trying a few different things. Hopefully it will all come to fruition on Saturday against Wycombe which will be a tough game."
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Joe Jones
Notts County and Wycombe Wanderers have faced each other a total of 33 times over the years, with the first meeting coming as late as 1995, when the Magpies won 2-0 at Meadow Lane.
The Chairboys are way ahead in the head-to-head, having beaten Notts 16 times and drawn nine – we have beaten them just eight times.
Our last encounter was on 10 December 2016, a 2-0 defeat which proved controversial due to a number of contentious decisions made by referee Eddie Ilderton, prompting former manager John Sheridan to launch a tirade against the match officials which ultimately cost him his job.
In 1887, a meeting held at the Steam Engine public house in Station Road, High Wycombe saw the formation of Wycombe Wanderers F.C. It is highly likely the club was named Wanderers after the famous Wanderers, winners of the first FA Cup in 1872. The club played just friendly matches between 1887 and 1896.
Wycombe first entered the FA Amateur Cup in 1894 and the FA Cup in 1895. In 1895 the club moved to Loakes Park, which would become its home for the next 95 years.
In 1896 the club joined the Southern League and competed in the Second Division until 1908, but in the summer of 1908 the club declined the invitation to retain their membership of the Southern League.
The club decided to pursue amateur instead of professional football and joined the Great Western Suburban League and remained there until the outbreak of the First World War.
After the hostilities had ended the club joined the Spartan League in 1919 and were Champions in successive years. In March 1921 the club's application to join the Isthmian League was accepted.
Wycombe enjoyed a fairytale season in 2000–01 as the club reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup. First Division sides Grimsby Town, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Wimbledon were all beaten before a memorable quarter-final with Premier League Leicester City.
In a game that has gone down in FA Cup history, striker Roy Essandoh headed an injury-time winner to seal a 2–1 win at Filbert Street as manager Lawrie Sanchez looked on from the dressing room, having been dismissed from the touchline during the game. The ensuing semi-final at Villa Park saw Liverpool pushed all the way before claiming a 2–1 victory.
Team news
Wycombe will be without Paris Cowan-Hall for their League Two clash with Notts County on Saturday.
The 26-year-old striker is suspended having been sent off in last weekend's 2-0 win at Hartlepool United, where he came off the bench to score for Gareth Ainsworth's side.
Cowan-Hall had come on for the Chairboys' other goalscorer, Adebayo Akinfenwa, who took a knock in opening the scoring.
Akinfenwa should be fine to lead the line against the Magpies, with Sam Saunders again ready to deputise for Marcus Bean - who sat out the win through injury.
Notts County will travel without the suspended Mark Yeates.
The midfielder was sent off after only 11 minutes against Barnet last weekend and must serve a three-match ban.
Despite their numerical disadvantage for the majority of that game, the Magpies won 1-0 and boss Kevin Nolan will stick largely to the same team.
Curtis Thompson will have his hamstring niggle checked again while back-up goalkeeper Scott Loach has left to join York City on loan.
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Joe Jones
Marc Bola has given a positive assessment of his loan spell at Notts County so far, believing himself to be improving as a player.
The Arsenal loanee also urges fellow Premier League academy prospects to consider making switches to the Football League, where they can get first-team action in challenging environments.
In an interview with the Nottingham Post, the full-back said: "It's been great for me to come here and get experience. There is a difference in terms of the facilities but you just kind of adapt to that.
"It was a big step to come out of London, but I am getting used to it. The lads are helping me and taking me round town and I've enjoyed that.
"In academy football I am used to the ball being on the floor. You get time and space and you will may be have three options on at one time, but at this level, the ball is in the air a lot more and there's no time. Your first thought when you get the ball is up and over.
"But I am enjoying every moment of being here. I can feel myself improving as a player because I am dishing out instructions to others. I have responsibility to be vocal and you are not scared to scream at somebody to say they aren't doing a job.
"You're not holding back and you need that responsibility to progress. So when I go back to Arsenal if somebody isn't doing their job I will be on them. But I am enjoying every moment of being here.
"If you can get out on loan then I would do it. Under-23s football is good for development but at League Two clubs they are giving youngsters like me a chance and it's such good experience.
"You have to earn respect and it turns you into a man. You have to be on it from minute one, or you will get a kick. I am really enjoying my time here and I am improving as a player."
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Joe Jones
Kevin Nolan says Scott Loach's loan move to York City will enable him to keep tabs of the goalkeeper in first-team action and make a decision on him at the end of the season.
The 28-year-old former England Under-21 international, who has made just seven appearances for the Magpies this season, sealed the switch to Bootham Crescent on Wednesday.
Nolan admits that Loach, whose deal at Meadow Lane is up at the end of the season, was desperate to play first-team football, but has been "first class" in biding his time as Adam Collin's deputy.
"Loachie was desperate to play and be number one somewhere so he could get some games under his belt," Nolan told the Nottingham Post.
"After York rang us yesterday (Wednesday) we just thought it would be an opportunity for him to go and do that.
"We can have a look at Joe Searson as well and then we can make a decision on them come the end of the season.
"I must admit Loachie has been first class since I came in. There's not been one whimper. All he's wanted to do is play games.
"But with Adam's form he's found that difficult. When York came along, I just thought it would be best for us and for him to go and play.
"It gives me a chance of getting a few tapes of him playing week in, week out, and then we can make a decision on him."
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Joe Jones
Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth has claimed that Notts County are "in good hands" with Alan Hardy as their owner and Kevin Nolan as head coach.
The Chairboys, dark horses for a League Two playoff spot, will be welcoming the Magpies to Adams Park on Saturday.
Ainsworth is impressed with how Notts have turned their season around since Hardy took over the club, admitting that they are a "totally different" side to the one that lost 2-0 at Meadow Lane in December.
"Kevin Nolan has injected spirit and desire into the club, and the owner is very passionate about the club; he has a vision and they are in good hands with him," Ainsworth told the Chairboys official site.
"We have a good chance to impose ourselves at home on Notts County, but they will be scrapping.
"With Newport picking up a point in midweek it makes sure it is definitely not dead and buried at the bottom so we will be wary of Notts County coming to us.
"It will be a totally different Notts County to the one we faced in December, but I'm hoping we are a different Wycombe than what it has been just after Christmas."
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Joe Jones
Notts County owner Alan Hardy has claimed that the club's playing budget for next season is likely to be "top four".
In addition, he believes that, with the added funds, the Magpies can have a tilt at the top seven in 2017-18.
Hardy told the Nottingham Post: "We looked at our one to three-year plan earlier in the week and asked 'could we be more optimistic in terms of the crowd numbers?'.
"I think we can be. The more people we attract through the gates, the more money we generate and that means we give more to the manager.
"I have already decided to increase the playing budget for next season as a result because we are now just starting to plan ahead.
"Next season, I would think, we will be top four in terms of budgets so we will be pushing hard for the play-offs if not automatic promotion.
"The fans may ask whether we will rely on free transfer signings, but if there is a player the manager wants who is going to cost a fee then we will certainly consider it if he makes the team better and it makes sense in terms of the business."
To read the full column on the Nottingham Post, click here.
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Alex West
When heading to an away game on a Saturday morning prior to an afternoon kickoff, it’s difficult to not notice the number of different social groups which are associated with Notts County. I would like everyone reading this article to imagine the ‘typical football fan’ in the following scenario:
8am: Meeting point is Lloyds, Hockley for ‘brekkie and a pint’.
9am: Next it’s a stop in the shop in the train station for numerous purchases of Beer and Cider.
9.30am: Board the train with 9 of ‘the lads’ before consuming a number of cans and taking part in a few sing songs.
Midday: Off the train and into the nearest boozer for a few cheeky pints and a further sing song.
2.30pm: Head to the ground for one last pre-match pint before taking our seat with the rest of the NCFC faithful.
Now, build a picture of the ‘typical supporter’ described above. Describe his clothing, attitude towards Notts, social class, and most importantly, his personality.
Let me guess:
Polo shirt? Smart jeans? Smart trainers? No NCFC clothing?
Prefers away days? Looking for ‘aggro’? Prefers to get drunk?
Working class? Labourer? Unemployed?
Loud mouthed? Arrogant? Rude?
Now, I can only guess the percentage of our readers who would have matched the scenario with the description above, but I can envisage it being quite high. Would you categorise the typical away day Notts fan above being associated with the stereotype of a smartly dressed, tanked-up brickie looking for a punch-up?
I ask the question because perception, not just in football, is a massive part of life and is often misinterpreted. I’d like you all to stereotype my life below and take a punt at what my average away day looks like:
29 years old
Male
Partner of 11 years with mortgage in £130,000 house
Three-year-old son
Fully employed as major supermarket manager with generous salary
Clean criminal record
Never been assaulted nor assaulted another person
I ask the question because of ‘perception’ and how it can be often misunderstood. The away day itinerary listed above is in fact my away day itinerary. I travel away with up to 9 or 10 others. Not once have we been involved in physical confrontation with police or rival fans. Not once have we engaged in looking for these two actions and not once have we travelled home following the game with nothing more than a sense of male bonding and a feeling of enjoyment and relief at getting away from the missus work for the day.
This seasons most memorable away trip has been Blackpool. Not for the football, not for the result, but for the relationships I can continue to build with people that I can call my friends and share a common interest with. We got drunk. We got merry. We danced, all night until early morning, and then fell drunkenly onto a twin bed in a budget Premier Inn at 3am.
Is this wrong? Are we thugs? Yobs? Or are we a group of friends who enjoy others company combined with alcohol and a sing song on the sea front?
I often read messageboards and Facebook posts on the official NCFC page and read comments slating the ‘youths at the front at Orient’ and the yobbos who let off smoke bombs at Mansfield. I think we all need a reality check here. In 2016, Notts County had 3 football related arrests away from home  – this equated to less than 1% of the total football related incidents in League 2 last season.
Alan Hardy and Kevin Nolan have made NCFC enjoyable again and more and more fans will begin to become involved with Notts County. Now as fans we have a decision to make, do we continue to look down at our noses at a different looking, different talking supporter or do we relish their desire to enjoy football as a whole experience and embrace their commitment to the cause?
Now let's be clear – I’m not for one minute stating that all football fans are angels, because they’re not, and there is still a growing hooligan element in the game which give groups of travelling football fans a bad perception to the public eye - but be wary of making rash assumptions when you see the boys enter the pub at 10am for a beer and a brekkie. We enjoy our football, we enjoy our away day, and with no hidden agenda.
I for one ENCOURAGE more groups of travelling fans to get together early in the morning and sink a few pints before the match. Why not? Because it's socially unacceptable? Because having a sing song and a Jagerbomb in the boozer will upset a few golden oldies who have sensitive hearing aids? Give me strength. Until Notts County fans start becoming violent or physically offensive to others, I am in full support of our away fans antics – and long may it continue.
See you all at Wycombe – get the beers in.
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Joe Jones
Michael O'Connor is the latest player to hail Kevin Nolan for his positive impact on the Notts County players' confidence and in turn the team's form.
"When we were on that 10 game losing streak, a few of the lads went into their shells," he told the Nottingham Post. "But since the gaffer has come in, he's put arms around all of us.
"The confidence is back and you only have to look at Richard Duffy to see that. He's been our best player since the gaffer came in and big H (Haydn Hollis) looks a different player too.
"It's good to be around here at the moment. The lads are enjoying their football at Meadow Lane again. Before, we were coming here feeling the anxiety.
"Some lads were scared of playing that 40-50 yard ball but now you see players getting forward like Toots (Matt Tootle) who scored on Sunday. He wouldn't have done that a few months ago.
"It's seven unbeaten now and if we can get a few away wins from now until the end of the season then we will easily finish mid-table. When the gaffer came the aim was just to stay in the league but I think now we are 11 points clear and we are on a good run.
"We've taken six points from three games, and I thought we should have had something from the Doncaster game. We will just take it game by game until we are mathematically safe."
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Pride of Nottingham is an independent fansite devoted to Notts County, the world’s oldest professional football club. Created in 2013, it has served as a source of Magpie news, features, match previews, reports, analysis and interviews for more than three years.

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