Joe Jones

Notts County manager Jamie Fullarton has praised his players for sticking to his game plan as he began his managerial reign with a win at Crawley Town. Filip Valencic's impressive second-half volley from just outside the box proved the difference between the two sides in Saturday’s League Two clash at the Checkatrade.com Stadium. The result saw the Magpies earn only their second away win of the season, the first one coming all the way back on the first game of the campaign in August. Fullarton said: "It's a great three points, but it's only three points. Breaking records doesn't really come into our thought process. You've got to give credit to the players because they are the ones who take in the information then act upon it. "I thought every man played their part, they were first class. It wasn't just the centre-backs, but I touched on it previously that defending is about the team, not any individual. "It's not just the defence which stops you conceding goals, it's what happens in front in terms of making it difficult to play better balls into the box, therefore making the job easier for the defenders. "From the centre backs to the centre forwards, we had a game plan and we stuck to it." Is Jamie Fullarton the man to take Notts forward? Join the Pride of Nottingham community, visit the forum and join the conversation.

Notts County defender Haydn Hollis has praised new manager Jamie Fullarton, his staff and his teammates for doing their homework on the training ground, which paid off in their 1-0 win over Crawley Town. Filip Valencic marked his full Magpies debut on Saturday with a wonderful volleyed goal at the Checkatrade.com Stadium to give the visitors their first away win since August. Hollis told reporters after the game: "I thought we were different class. We defended brilliantly as a whole team. It felt great at the end to know you've kept a clean sheet and won the game. That's credit to the lads because they were the ones out there doing it. But you've also got to credit the manager and his staff. All week in training we have done training and shape. As everybody could see, it paid off. "I felt comfortable and I love defending. Roy didn't have a save to make in the second half and people were putting their bodies on the line. I think Curtis got a cut on his head that needed stitches and that's what you want here. "You want people to throw themselves in front of the ball and be brave. That's something we've got to continue for the rest of the season now." Give us your thoughts on this article by signing up to Pride of Nottingham, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Notts County manager Jamie Fullarton has described Filip Valencic’s goal in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Crawley Town as straight off the training ground. The Slovenian struck a wonderful volley just after the hour mark at the Checkatrade.com Stadium to seal a first Magpies away win since the opening day of the season. "It was a fantastic strike by the young man who has responded well to the information we have been drip feeding into him over the week," said Fullarton. "We've worked on certain aspects of how we want to attack and it's one of those where you work on it, for many weeks and fortunately it has come off. "That pull off onto the full-back by Jon Stead, the timing of the pass, it all came together which resulted in a fantastic finish." Fullarton reiterated the point of getting the defence organised, an element which had been missing under previous boss Ricardo Moniz but came on in leaps and bounds against the Red Devils. "I was always confident about getting a result especially when you see the attacking force that we have," he said. "Scoring goals is the most difficult part of the game at whatever level you are at. "It's important that, when we have such quality going forward, then we structure and organise in order to prevent goals going in at the other end. And if you can do that, then it gives you a chance of winning football matches. "Roy has hardly had a save to make and that's credit to the players who were in front of him. "When things go well, football is an easy game. It's making sure that when we are under pressure, we have resilience so it doesn't cloud or make the game complicated. "And in the first half while we looked solid in terms of shape and we did not look under threat from a ball in behind, there were not many goalscoring opportunities. "I said to the players at half-time that I just wanted us to be more decisive and brave in the final third. "What I want to see is that when we have the chance to express ourselves I want us to go on and do it. "In the second half we had that belief and a confidence to play which was a result of our shape and foundation. We created more chances and we could have scored more goals." Notts climb up to 16th in League Two following their win, putting them six points away from the playoffs. Credit to Dan Westwell for the image Discuss Jamie Fullarton's post-match thoughts by visiting the Pride of Nottingham forum, signing up to the community and joining the conversation.

Jamie Fullarton’s reign as Notts County manager has got off to the best possible start as he masterminded a 1-0 win away at Crawley Town, courtesy of a stunning volley from Filip Valencic, who made his full debut for the Magpies on Saturday. In one fell swoop the former Nottingham Forest head of development righted a number of wrongs present under former manager Ricardo Moniz – that is, an away win (the first since the opening weekend of the season, over five months ago), a clean sheet (the first since our goalless draw with Bristol Rovers in October), a strong defensive performance, and a goal from a player that barely featured under the Dutchman. The Reds started brightly with Matt Harrold surprising Roy Carroll with a shot inside a minute, which the goalkeeper fumbled. Gavin Tomlin was then unlucky to have his shot from a tight angle on the right tipped over the bar, as the home team looked to make an early impact. It was all Crawley in the opening half an hour, but Notts maintained their composure at the back as their opponents proved lacklustre in front of goal, although Ronan Murray had to come to the rescue when he cleared Sonny Bradley's header off the line. County regrouped in the second half and went on to take the lead after 63 minutes when Jon Stead found Valencic, who did not wait for a second invitation and volleyed past the diving Darryl Flahavan. The visitors became increasingly desperate in the latter stages as they bid to get something out of the game, but Notts remained strong and steady at the back as they run the clock down until the final whistle, which was met with jubilation by the players and the travelling fans. Share your opinions on the result, County's performance, and whether Jamie Fullarton may just be the right man for the job on the Pride of Nottingham forum - sign up to our community and join the conversation. Credit to Dan Westwell for the image

Notts County striker Izale McLeod has claimed his side can still push for promotion, while he believes he can still reach 20 goals this season. The Magpies' top scorer, with nine goals, returns to old club Crawley Town this afternoon, having left the Reds for Meadow Lane in the summer for a fee said to be over £100,000. But with new manager Jamie Fullarton in charge, McLeod believes a nine-point gap to the play-off places in League Two is not impossible to overcome. "I still think I can get to 20 goals this season, but it's not just about me," he told reporters. "More importantly if we can shore ourselves up at the back, we can still really push up the league. "It's still really tight and people outside of the club will think we are going to be mid-table. But we've got ambitions of wanting promotion. "Why not? We are not a million miles away. If we can get on a run we will be there or thereabouts." Do you agree with McLeod? Visit the Pride of Nottingham forum, join the conversation and sign up to the community.

Leyton Orient president Francesco Becchetti has been given a six-match stadium ban and fined £40,000 by the Football Association for aiming a kick at assistant boss Andy Hessenthaler. He was charged after television pictures captured the incident after the win over Portsmouth on 26 December. An independent regulatory commission decided on Friday the 49-year-old was guilty of a charge of violent conduct. Becchetti, who requested a personal hearing, can appeal against the ruling. The Italian, who bought the O's in summer 2014, had accepted his actions were improper but strongly denied it was violent conduct. --- Warren Feeney has been appointed as the new manager of League Two side Newport County. Former Northern Ireland international Feeney, 34, was previously the Exiles' assistant manager and replaces former boss John Sheridan, who left to join Oldham Athletic on Wednesday. --- Premier League side Norwich have signed midfielder Ben Godfrey from League Two club York City on a three-and-a-half year contract for an undisclosed fee. The 18-year-old made 15 appearances for the Minstermen, scoring one goal. --- League Two side Northampton have signed versatile Millwall winger Lee Martin on a one-month loan deal. Martin, 28, has made 69 appearances for the Lions since signing for the League One club following his release by Ipswich Town in July 2013. --- Stevenage have signed striker Aaron O'Connor from Forest Green Rovers on a one-month loan, with a view to extending it to the end of the season. O'Connor has scored nine goals in 20 National League appearances for Forest Green this season. The 32-year-old signed a one-year contract with Rovers in July following his release by Newport County. --- League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge have signed striker Oliver Hawkins from National League South side Hemel Hempstead Town for an undisclosed fee. The 23-year-old has agreed a two-and-half-year deal with the Daggers. --- League Two side Accrington Stanley have signed winger Brayden Shaw on a short-term deal after a one-month trial. The 18-year-old signed a six-month professional contract with Bury but was let go after failing to make an appearance for the first team. --- League Two side York City have signed Hull City midfielder Matt Dixon on an 18-month deal. The 21-year-old made his debut for the Tigers in the League Cup first-round tie against Accrington Stanley in August. Dixon was captain of the Championship club's under-21 side. --- Cambridge United have signed striker Ben Williamson from Gillingham until summer 2017 for an undisclosed fee. Williamson recently returned from a loan spell with the U's, having scored three goals in eight League Two games. The 27-year-old joined Gillingham from Port Vale in June, but failed to score in 14 appearances for the promotion-chasing League One side. --- League Two side Barnet have signed Leicester City defender Alie Sesay on an 18-month deal. The 21-year-old Sierra Leone international came through Leicester's academy but has not made a first-team appearance for the Foxes. Sesay, who can play across the back four and in central midfield, has previously had loan spells at Colchester and Cambridge United. --- League Two side Crawley Town have signed Crewe midfielder Chris Atkinson on a one-month loan deal. The 23-year-old has made 16 appearances for the Alex this season but has not featured since mid-November. --- Hartlepool United have signed winger Nathan Thomas from League Two rivals Mansfield Town, with terms undisclosed. Thomas, 21, had handed in a transfer request to the management and was cleared to move to Victoria Park. He had made 21 appearances for the Stags so far this season, following a summer move from Motherwell. --- Cambridge United have signed midfielder James Dunne, who has been released by Portsmouth by mutual consent. Dunne, 26, made one appearance for Pompey this season having signed from Stevenage in 2014, but featured in 14 games on loan at Dagenham & Redbridge. Share your thoughts on the latest League Two news by visiting the Pride of Nottingham forum, joining the conversation and signing up to our community.

Notts County have only ever played Crawley Town seven times in their history. The first ever fixture between the two was just over three years ago, on the 10th November 2012. This milestone first meeting between the two, played at Meadow Lane, finished 1-1. Meanwhile the return fixture, played away on the 9th March 2013, ended as a goalless draw. The record stands at three Notts wins, two defeats and two draws. Crawley Town have been a non-league side for the majority of their history – just over 10 years ago, while Notts were struggling to survive in the old Second Division, Crawley had just been promoted from the Southern Football League! Crawley have won plenty of silverware in their history, though the majority of it is amateur-based. This changed when they won the Conference National title in 2011 and the League Two title just a year later. 2010-11 was a record-breaking season not just for Crawley, but also for the Conference. The West Sussex club broke the points total in one season (105) and tie with other teams for most wins in one season (31), fewest defeats (3), and highest goal difference (+63). Because of this season, alongside the funds they had to buy players and an unlikable manager (Steve Evans), they were known as “the Manchester United of non-league football”. The town of Crawley is known for being close - just three miles in fact - to Gatwick Airport, the world's busiest single-runway international airport. Famous people who have links to Crawley include Australian footballer Kevin Muscat (born in Crawley), Gareth Southgate (attended the town's Hazelwick School), English rock band The Cure (formed in Crawley, several of its members attended St Wilfrid's RC School) and Gorillaz lead singer 2D (a fictional character, his back story claims he grew up in the town). --- Chris Atkinson could make his Crawley Town debut when they host Notts in League Two on Saturday. The midfielder arrived on a month's loan from Crewe and goes straight into manager Mark Yates' squad. His arrival was partly a consequence of the loss, to a broken foot, of Jimmy Smith, who remains sidelined. Joe McNerney, owing to a knee injury, is Yates' other absentee. Notts will have Jamie Fullarton in charge for the first time when they resume action following a two-week break. Fullarton this week made the short move across the River Trent, having been a coach at Nottingham Forest, to become the new manager of the Magpies, who have not played since January 2 after their game at Accrington last weekend was postponed following heavy rain in Lancashire. Fullarton will have Alan Smith available, despite the experienced midfielder holding transfer talks with League Two rivals Plymouth. Liam Noble will be completing a four-match suspension. Scot Bennett will be back in the squad after returning from his loan spell at Newport. It was hoped the defender would be able to feature last weekend against Oxford but international clearance was not received in time. Bennett will be vying for a recall to the starting line-up along with the likes of Thierry Audel, Curtis Thompson, Jimmy Spencer and Ronan Murray. Thoughts on the team news? Visit the Pride of Nottingham forum, join the conversation and sign up to the community.

Notts County manager Jamie Fullarton has emphasised the importance of preparation ahead of a game, both on his part and that of the players. The new boss, who took over from Ricardo Moniz last week, has reportedly been arriving at Meadow Lane at 6am every day since his appointment in a bid to do his research and tailor the training to the opposition – in this weekend’s case, Crawley Town away. Fullarton told reporters on Thursday: "We don't want to overcomplicate certain areas of the pitch. I've tried to make it as simple as possible. "The role of the coach is to help players the best they can and implement a strategy to help win games. That's what we've done and we've had a really good response from the players. "Everything we do during the week, it is important the players take it on board and apply it come Saturday. Within the division, you do your prep and look at the opposition. "Crawley had a very good result against Cambridge at home last week and they have threat and strength in their strike pairing. "I am aware of the away form and the only way we can change it is by hard work, what we do every day on the training field and then the players responding to that. "I want to see intent and it is a key phrase for me. We can talk about effort and that for me is part of intent. But intent is application and showing what we have done all week. "Understanding what is required from our preparation, allied with the effort I demand, gives you a better chance of success. "If the players show that on the pitch and put in place what we have worked on, then I am happy." Notts take on Crawley this Saturday at 3pm. Share your opinions on the match build-up by visiting the Pride of Nottingham forum, joining the conversation and signing up to the community.

New Notts County manager Jamie Fullarton will give the club’s out of favour players the chance to make an impression before deciding their next move. Blair Adams, Nicky Wroe and Taylor McKenzie were all frozen out under previous boss Ricardo Moniz, and were sent on loan to Mansfield, Halifax and Wrexham respectively. All three players are either back at Meadow Lane or will be back soon, and Fullarton is eager to give the trio a clean slate. He said: "I will speak to them first because they follow the same line as every player and member of staff. "All new managers provide a different environment – and I'm not saying it's for better or worse – but you get different reactions and different outcomes from previous regimes. "It's important that before making a decision that I have the chance to speak to them about what their aims are, and vice versa. Then we will come to a decision." Adams has proven a success at Mansfield, where won the supporters' player of the month award for December and has impressed manager Adam Murray. Wroe, meanwhile, has returned to Notts this week, following his spell at Halifax where he was made captain and his performances are understood to have attracted interest from Macclesfield. McKenzie is also back at Meadow Lane, having seen a similar spell end at Wrexham where he failed to play a single game. Do the above players deserve a second chance at Notts? Visit the Pride of Nottingham forum, join the conversation, share your opinions and sign up to our community.

The appointment of Jamie Fullarton as Notts County manager is a coup for the Magpies, at least according to Nottingham Forest boss Dougie Freedman, who claims he is now “fearful” of the team on the other side of the Trent. The Reds boss has worked alongside Fullarton at Crystal Palace, Bolton Wanderers and Forest and regards him highly as a coach. Freedman said: "They have got themselves a great coach. Notts County fans might not know Jamie, but if you ask anyone in the game what he is like, they will tell you that he is a highly regarded coach. "I am fearful of them across the road now because, knowing Jamie, he will get that place moving and we will need to keep moving ourselves. "It is a good appointment and a good job for him. I think Notts County fans will be surprised. "He is a very detailed coach, he knows exactly what he wants. There will be no grey areas under him. "He knows what he wants, in terms of his coaching. He speaks a number of languages, which is a useful tool that he has helped me with in the past. "He is an educated man who knows what he wants. He wanted to go and manage and he has got that opportunity now." Fullarton’s first ever game as a first-team manager will be on Saturday against Crawley Town away. Share your thoughts on Freedman's opinion of Fullarton by visiting the Pride of Nottingham forum, joining the conversation and signing up to the community.

Notts County chief executive Julian Winter has compared new manager Jamie Fullarton to Brendan Rodgers. The 41-year-old, who was previously in charge of the Nottingham Forest and Bolton Wanderers youth teams, saw off Newport County boss John Sheridan, Grimsby's Paul Hurst and former Swindon manager Mark Cooper for the Magpies role. Winter, who worked with Brendan Rodgers and Malky Mackay when chief executive of Watford, said Fullarton's level of detail was significant in taking over the Notts helm from Ricardo Moniz. He told the media: "Amazingly we were in a position where we would have been quite happy in appointing any one of the six on the shortlist. That is a pretty incredible place to be and trust me, I've been through this before. "It was a very strong shortlist and it led to a very intense couple of days. We followed it up with a second interview with Jamie because there were additional things to ask. "We still came to the same conclusion that he was the best candidate. Jamie said some good things and presented some good things. He showed a level of preparation that was pretty amazing given the time frame these guys had. Ultimately it was about the best fit in terms of where the club is now and what we want to achieve in the future. "Jamie showed tremendous characteristics. You can see the enthusiasm and the determination to be successful. He shone through. He had a brutal honesty and is very determined and knowledgeable. "I've worked with some top managers in the past and he certainly has characteristics which reminds me of some of them. They have old school disciplines about honesty and respect allied with a new school mentality about medicines, analysis and so on. "That permeated through the guys I worked with before and I definitely see those qualities in Jamie." Winter added that he understood the concerns about Fullarton being in the role for the first time. But pointing to Rodgers and Mackay, who were both given their first taste in management at Watford, Winter said Fullarton is ready for the next step in his career. He continued: "I've appointed and worked with first time managers before. At Watford it was Brendan Rodgers, and then we appointed another first time manager in Malky Mackay. "My history in working with first time managers is they come to a point in their careers where this is the next step. And the guys I have worked with in the past have stepped to the plate and done the job. They all have to start somewhere. "I can certainly understand why the fans are asking why we have appointed another first-time manager, 100 per cent. "Before I came here, I looked at the club from the outside in the managerial appointments, I looked at everything of the tenure of Ray and Aileen (Trew) because that's the important part. "So I get some of the supporter feedback in the context of previous appointments. We understood it would come and are not surprised it was slightly controversial. But in these processes you can't ignore what is staring you in the face. "I am enthused by the appointment of Jamie and I am sure he will be a tremendous asset and we will see that over time." Fullarton’s first game in charge of Notts is away at Crawley Town this Saturday. Share your thoughts on the article by visiting the Pride of Nottingham forum, joining the conversation and becoming part of the community.

New Notts County manager Jamie Fullarton gave his first press conference on Monday, telling the press of his delight at managing the oldest Football League club in the world and reassuring fans with the fact that he has plenty of coaching experience. The former Nottingham Forest development coach was appointed as Ricardo Moniz's successor on Sunday, having beaten the likes of Mark Cooper and John Sheridan to the post. Fullarton, who also took his first training session on Monday, said: "It's an opportunity, a club laced with tradition, history and has a standing in league football. It's the oldest football club in the world, and behind the scenes, the infrastructure, plan and vision, which sometimes doesn't get seen by everyone, excited me. It dovetailed with what I see which is a genuine opportunity to be successful in what is my first job. "Although it's my first managerial job, I've been coaching for 11 years. I've been developing, evolving and your first job is an important one because if you don't do well or get it right, you might not get a second. "It was a big decision, but it's not a gamble, it's an opportunity, a genuine opportunity to be successful." Fullarton’s first Notts game will be at Crawley Town this Saturday. Don't forget to join us to express your opinion and to join in with our discussions alongside other magpie fans - Here.

So, after just under a fortnight of waiting, Notts County have their new manager. Ricardo Moniz's promise of attacking football did not translate well in League Two, a division full of plodders and sluggers, and so he paid the price just after Christmas with the Magpies in the bottom half of the table. Since the departure of Keith Curle, the Magpies have been in freefall. From a top-half League One table, we deteriorated season upon season until, in May 2015, we had slipped into the bottom division of English professional football once again. Since Curle, all the managers we've had did not have any experience of managing an English league first team - Chris Kiwomya was a reserve team manager, Shaun Derry was still a professional player when we entrusted him with the Notts reins, and Moniz had only ever managed sides in various top divisions on the continent, a completely different kettle of fish to the depths of English football. Much as it pains me to think of Notts County, my beloved team, the Oldest Football League Club in the World TM, slumming it in the fourth division, this is the harsh truth. And as we are here, we must adapt by taking on a manager who has experience of Leagues One and Two, who can help drag us out of this mire. Over the last week a number of individuals have been tipped for the job, including Northampton Town manager Chris Wilder, Grimsby Town boss Paul Hurst, Newport County’s John Sheridan and former Swindon Town gaffer Mark Cooper. Former Birmingham City and Huddersfield Town manager Lee Clark was also said to be among the names being considered for the post. All of these individuals would have been alright to some degree. Hurst would have been the biggest gamble of the lot as he hasn't managed in the Football League, but he has done such a good job with Grimsby Town that he would have been a good prospect. Considering how tense the Notts fans are at the moment, having witnessed their team deteriorate to the state they're in now, he appointment of a manager with prior league experience would have been reassuring. It would have said "alright, we are in a mess, but here are some safe hands who know the name of the game and know what it takes to get out of this god-forsaken division". What would not have been alright, however, is yet another unpopular appointment featuring another unproven, untested individual like we have done for our last three managers. And lo and behold, we've now got Jamie Fullarton, whose only experience of management is youth teams, as our new manager. Sure, he "could" end up being a brilliant manager, much like the relatively untested Neil Warnock was 25-odd years ago. But at least Warnock was proven in the non-League - like Hurst. Fullarton is another unknown quantity, and nobody knows what to expect. And therein lies the problem - it's not a reassuring appointment. It doesn't offer peace of mind. It's another complete shot in the dark. And given how all our expectations and hopes have been dragged through the wringer in the last few years, is this really what Notts fans deserve at this stage in time? Share your thoughts and opinions on this column by visiting Pride of Nottingham's forum and joining the conversation.

Notts County have confirmed the appointment of Jamie Fullarton as the club’s new manager. The Magpies sacked Ricardo Moniz in December, with Mick Halsall and Richard Dryden taking over first-team duties in a caretaker position. Fullarton, 41, has spent time this season in charge of Championship side Nottingham Forest’s development squad after leaving Bolton Wanderers in 2014. Notts chairman Ray Trew says he was impressed after holding talks with Fullarton, telling the official club website: “I don’t think I have ever been as impressed by someone at an interview as I was by Jamie. He had us all captivated throughout what turned out to be a lengthy assessment of his suitability for the role. “I’ve got to stress that we had an incredibly high standard of applicant for the vacancy, some of whom were unable to commit to the role to the level we were looking for and some who gave us plenty to think about when it came to conducting the interviews. “However, when Jamie came in for his interview we all agreed that he stood out as the man that we wanted to take on this exciting challenge, with his meticulous attention to detail and his mix of self-awareness and self-assurance shining through.” Fullarton will take charge of first team duties from Monday before taking his new side to Crawley Town on Saturday. He admits he is relishing the task of managing the world’s oldest Football League club. “I am delighted and excited by the prospect of managing such a great club as Notts County, laced with history and tradition,” said Fullarton. “To manage a club which has in place an infrastructure, strategy and vision off the pitch that provides a genuine opportunity to be successful on the pitch is a fantastic foundation to build upon.” The Magpies are currently 18th in League Two and without a win in their last four matches. JAMIE FULLARTON FACT FILE A midfielder by trade, he began his footballing career at Scottish club St Mirren and spent five years there, racking up 143 appearances, before a spell in France with SC Bastia. In 1997 he moved to Crystal Palace, where he played 77 times and, following a short loan at Bolton Wanderers, he moved back to Scotland with Dundee United. Fullarton's next destination was Brentford before winding down his career with Southend United, Chesterfield and Woodlands Wellington FC. Following his retirement, he moved to Spain where he set up his own football academy, running teams from Under-8 to Under-19, playing against Spanish lower league professional club's academies. In July 2011, Fullarton took over as Youth Team Coach at Bristol Rovers, and a year later he became the coach of the Bolton Wanderers Under-21s from where he was released by mutual consent in October 2014, after which he became the academy manager at Nottingham Forest. What do you think about the appointment of Jamie Fullarton as Notts County's new manager? Visit the Pride of Nottingham forum and join the conversation.

Notts County have confirmed that they will be announcing their new managerial appointment in a press conference on Monday. Speculation is rife that the successful candidate is Nottingham Forest Under-21s development coach Jamie Fullarton, who jumped straight to the top of the bookies’ list to become odds-on favourite, and Colin Slater also suggested that the 41-year-old - who, like County's three previous managers, Chris Kiwomya, Shaun Derry and Ricardo Moniz, has no experience of managing an English football club - is favourite for the helm. Interviews for the job were wrapped up on Friday, and Paul Hurst, the current Grimsby Town manager, is said to be out of the running and so too is Lee Clark, the former manager of Huddersfield Town and Blackpool. Mark Cooper and John Sheridan are still billed to be in the running, however. The new manager will replace Ricardo Moniz, who was sacked following the 2-2 draw at home to Morecambe on December 29, and will have a week to work with the players after the Magpies' trip to Accrington Stanley was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch. What do you think about this latest turn of events? Can the speculation be trusted? Would you like to see Fullarton at the Magpies helm or should the position go to a more experienced manager? Visit the Pride of Nottingham forum and join the conversation.

Notts County hope to appoint a new manager over the weekend after narrowing down their shortlist to three candidates, according to reports. The Magpies have been without a manager since sacking Dutchman Ricardo Moniz, along with his assistant Dave Kevan and defensive coach Dean Yates, on December 29. Over the last week a number of individuals have been tipped for the job, including Northampton Town manager Chris Wilder, Grimsby Town boss Paul Hurst, Newport County’s John Sheridan and former Swindon Town gaffer Mark Cooper. Sky Sports News also believes that former Birmingham City and Huddersfield Town manager Lee Clark is among the names being considered for the post. Mick Halsall, County's academy manager, and Richard Dryden, County's Under-21 coach, have been in caretaker control of the first team since Moniz's dismissal and oversaw the 4-2 home defeat to Oxford United last Saturday. The pair will be in charge for their side’s clash with Accrington at the Crown Ground this weekend. Be apart of Pride of Nottingham, join our growing community and express your views on club matters.

Notts County have only played Accrington Stanley 14 times in their history. The first fixtures were in August and December 1958, when both sides played in Division Three. The Magpies drew 1-1 in the first match, before losing 3-0 in the second. A hiatus of 48 years followed before the teams met again in the fourth tier, now called League Two, on 9 September 2006. The result was a 3-2 win to Notts. The last time the two met was on 22 August 2015, a 1-1 draw in League Two. The original town's team, Accrington, were amongst the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888, before resigning from the league after just five years. A team called Stanley Villa already existed at the time, named as such because they were based at the Stanley Arms on Stanley Street in Accrington. With the demise of Accrington, Stanley Villa took the town name to become Accrington Stanley. The club re-formed after World War I and entered the League in 1921 with the formation of the old Third Division North, along with the other top northern non-League clubs. This original incarnation was dissolved in 1966, before re-emerging two years later. In 2005–06, Stanley won the Football Conference and were promoted to League Two. Ironically, Oxford United, the team they switched places with, was the team that had been elected to replace the former Accrington Stanley as members of the Football League in 1962 when they were struggling with debt. Accrington Stanley is perhaps most well known for being discussed in a late 1980s advert by the Milk Marketing Board (for all you younger readers, Ian Rush was one of the greatest strikers of his day, and Liverpool's all-time leading goalscorer). Famous people from Accrington include Vicky Entwhistle and Julie Hesmondhalgh from Coronation Street, Yes singer Jon Anderson, cricketer Mike Atherton, Diana Vickers from The X Factor, and Mystic Meg. - Josh Windass and Matt Crooks are both available for Accrington's fixture with Notts. On Wednesday the duo signed pre-contract terms with Scottish side Rangers to move to Ibrox in the summer, but Stanley manager John Coleman confirmed they will be considered as normal in the meantime. Joe Wright, Brad Halliday and Liam Wakefield all extended deals with the east Lancashire club until the end of the season this week so will also stay in the reckoning. Central defender Dean Winnard, however, has been absent since mid-November. Notts caretaker managers Mick Halsall and Richard Dryden expect to have Alan Smith available, despite the experienced midfielder holding transfer talks with League Two leaders Plymouth. Scot Bennett will be back in the squad after returning from his loan spell at Newport. It was hoped the defender would be able to feature last weekend against Oxford but international clearance was not received in time. Bennett will be vying for a recall to the starting line-up along with the likes of Thierry Audel, Curtis Thompson, Jimmy Spencer and Ronan Murray. Midfielder Liam Noble will complete a four-match suspension while winger Will Hayhurst remains a long-term injury absentee.

Leyton Orient president Francesco Becchetti has admitted part of a Football Association misconduct charge. Television pictures appeared to show him aiming a kick at his club's assistant boss Andy Hessenthaler after their 3-2 win against Portsmouth on Boxing Day. A club statement said Becchetti accepted his actions on the touchline were 'improper conduct', but added that he "strongly denied" it was violent conduct and had requested a personal FA hearing. - League Two side Luton Town have appointed Brighton & Hove Albion first-team coach Nathan Jones as their new manager on a two-and-a-half-year deal. The 42-year-old Welshman, who enters his first permanent managerial role, succeeds John Still, who was sacked last month. Luton, on a run of one win from their last nine games, sit 15th in the table. "We believe we have found the best man to lead the club's footballing aspirations forward," chief executive Gary Sweet told the club website. "Nathan is a professional, disciplined, strong and open-minded character who is going to install a hard-working team ethic and, importantly, the prospect of fast-flowing football to Kenilworth Road. "The board believe Nathan will modernise our club's football culture, blending the elements of our footballing heritage with a modern, forward-thinking philosophy. "As a club we realise a change of thinking will not happen overnight, but we are already excited at the prospect of Nathan's ideas and vision for Luton Town." - Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman has accused Josh Windass and Matt Crooks of disrespecting his club on social media after sealing their moves. The pair have signed pre-contract deals at Rangers after snubbing the chance to stay with the League Two side. But Coleman has slammed the duo for their posts on social media about making the switch to a 'massive club'. He said: “I don’t get embroiled in social media but I do think going on and seeing the players had tweeted about ‘buzzing to play for a massive club’ is disrespectful to our fans. “Our fans have backed them through thick and thin and I do think there should be more respect in place. When I became a manager, my ethos was always to treat players how I would want to be treated and I just wish there had been more communication from the players to myself. - Plymouth Argyle manager Derek Adams has admitted that he hopes to start contract negotiations with his players soon. Most of his squad are out of contract in the summer, with players such as Graham Carey, Reuben Reid and Jake Jervis able leave the club for nothing. "I hope to do that very soon," Adams said when asked when talks would begin. "I just need to get the go ahead to do that and then we'll be in a place to speak to the players because I think that's important." - Cambridge United left-back Greg Taylor has been ruled out for the rest of the season as he requires ankle surgery. The 25-year-old has made 19 appearances for Shaun Derry's side this term, but was injured in the Boxing Day victory over Dagenham & Redbridge. - Midfielder Michael Collins has left Oxford United by mutual consent, having failed to make an appearance for the League Two club this season. The 29-year-old played 42 games for the Us after joining from Scunthorpe in the summer of 2014. The former Huddersfield player spent time on loan at York City earlier this season, making seven appearances. - Hartlepool manager Ronnie Moore has claimed his side's extended break might help them in Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie against Championship side Derby. Pools have not played since 19 December after their games with Notts County, Carlisle and Newport were postponed. "It's unusual, missing the Christmas period. I've never had that, only when I'm out of work," Moore told BBC Tees. "Hopefully it's come at the right time, maybe we needed a bit of a break and hopefully we can kick on." - Bristol Rovers have signed Shrewsbury Town club captain Liam Lawrence. Lawrence, 34, has played 23 times for Shrewsbury this season, having joined them from Barnsley in July 2014. The former Republic of Ireland midfielder, who won 15 caps for his country, started his career at Mansfield and has also played for Sunderland, Stoke and Portsmouth. What are your thoughts on this week's news in League Two? Visit the Pride of Nottingham forum and join the conversation.

Richard Dryden has played down reports of Alan Smith leaving Notts County, insisting that he is still in the squad for now. Plymouth Argyle have reportedly offered Smith a deal until the end of next season, with the 35-year-old keen to extend his playing career before moving into coaching. A photo emerged on Wednesday of what appeared to be Smith walking alongside Pilgrims manager Derek Adams in the Devon city. Dryden, however, told reporters on Thursday: "Alan is in the squad. "Alan is Alan. He comes in and works hard, people look up to him as a leader. "He's going to be involved with us from now until the end of the season hopefully. I take it he is still going to be here." Do you want Alan Smith to remain part of the Notts team, or are you happy to see him head to the South West? Visit the Pride of Nottingham forum and join the conversation.

Two new names have emerged in the running for the Notts County manager’s job. One of those is Grimsby Town boss Paul Hurst, who led his side to the Conference play-off final last season, which they lost to Bristol Rovers at Wembley. Hurst was a teammate of Notts head of recruitment Guy Branston at Rotherham United when they won promotion to the second tier in 2001. The Magpies are said to have been monitoring Hurst, whose side have lost just two of their last 14 league and cup matches, racking up nine wins in the process. Grimsby have also recorded an emphatic 3-0 win over Notts in pre-season, a display that the Kop faithful still refer to today as a particularly poor performance from their side. As well as Hurst, Northampton manager Chris Wilder's odds also shortened dramatically as he was installed as second favourite. Wilder is based in Sheffield and played for Notts in the 1996/97 season. He was reportedly considered for the Cambridge United job, which was eventually given to ex-Magpies gaffer Shaun Derry. The Cobblers, who are second in League Two, have been plagued by off the field problems, but have since been taken over by Kelvin Thomas, who was Wilder's chairman at Oxford United.

Notts County midfielder Alan Smith will wait until a new manager is in place before discussing his future, according to reports. The 35-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and is said to be on the radar of Plymouth Argyle, an offer that he is considering. According to the Nottingham Post he has informed the Magpies board that he is happy to stay should they offer him a new deal, but will speak to the new boss over his role at Meadow Lane going forward. A poll carried out by the Plymouth Herald found that 68 percent of Argyle fans would welcome the former Manchester United man at Home Park. Would you like to see Smudger remain at Meadow Lane, or is it time for him to go? Visit the Pride of Nottingham forum and join the conversation.

Notts County midfielder Liam Noble is attracting interest from Portsmouth and Cambridge United, according to reports. The mercurial 24-year-old is out of contract in the summer, and with less than six months remaining on his current deal, he can now talk to other clubs regarding a move away from Meadow Lane. According to the Nottingham Post, former Magpies boss Shaun Derry, now at Cambridge, is understood to be keen on linking up again with Noble, having signed him when manager of Notts following his release from Carlisle in June 2014. Pompey manager Paul Cook is also said to be a firm admirer of the former Sunderland man, who has scored eight goals this season. In total, Noble has made 60 appearances for Notts, scoring 14 goals in all competitions, but his time in the East Midlands has been plagued with a poor disciplinary record, accruing five cards in one-and-a-half seasons. Should Noble stay or should he go? Visit the Pride of Nottingham forum and join the conversation.

Curtis Thompson has claimed that Oxford United’s second goal proved the turning point in Notts County’s 4-2 weekend defeat at Meadow Lane, because that is when their “heads dropped”. Liam Sercombe drew first blood with a penalty in the first half, but Jon Stead levelled on the hour. Thompson then struck 76 minutes in to put the Magpies in the lead, but just three minutes later Alex MacDonald scored the U’s second, before late goals from Callum O'Dowda and Kemar Roofe sealed the win. Thompson told local media: "The first half was very difficult because Oxford were the better team. They were popping the ball around and you could see why they are further up the table. "In the second half we came out with a bit more belief and we started to get on the ball a lot more. We played with a bit more confidence and it showed because we got back into the game. "We made it 1-1, then made changes when I came on and managed to score, which was great. We looked strong at that stage and looked the better team. But they got the second goal and from then on we switched off a bit. "They were good goals late on, but after their equaliser our heads dropped. We lost our shape, we didn't tuck in and the discipline went. "A lot of gaps were created which they took advantage of. But we've got to put it to the back of our minds, pick ourselves up and go again against Accrington." To discuss this article, visit the Pride of Nottingham forum and join the conversation. Credit to Dan Westwell for the image.

Notts County’s search for a new manager continues, with former Cardiff City and Watford boss Malky Mackay considered to be out of the frame for the Magpies gig. Mackay is rumoured to be interesting Celtic – a club where he used to ply his trade as a player – as their current manager Ronny Deila is under pressure following a run of poor performances. John Sheridan, the current boss of Newport County, remains the favourite to claim the Notts job, while the currently unemployed Mark Cooper is also set for talks with the club and has made it clear he is keen on the position, a season after guiding Swindon Town to the League One play-off final. According to local media, interviews are set to be held this week with chairman Ray Trew and chief executive Julian Winter, with an appointment not expected to be made until after the League Two clash with Accrington Stanley. This means that means Richard Dryden and Mick Halsall will remain in charge of the club in a caretaker capacity and are hoping to bounce back from Saturday's 4-2 defeat at home to Oxford United. To discuss this article, visit the Pride of Nottingham forum and join the conversation.

Notts County co-caretaker manager Richard Dryden has bemoaned referee Carl Boyeson's decision to award Oxford United a penalty on the stroke of half time in their win against Notts County on Saturday. Two late strikes from Callum O'Dowda and Kemar Roofe helped the U's to a 4-2 win at the managerless Magpies, but it was the crucial penalty decision that angered Dryden. He was convinced that goalkeeper Roy Carroll had not brought down Liam Sercombe and thought the decision changed the game. "It was tough on us especially to go in a goal down before half-time," Dryden told local media. "I've seen the challenge from Roy again, because at the time from where I was stood you couldn't say yes or no. "But watching the video again, Roy was a mile away and it was never a penalty. It was a minute before half-time and while it was not the end of the world, it knocks you back a bit. "We only really started to show how we could play in the second half. We knew, from watching footage of them, that Oxford were a really good attacking side with lots of pace. They like to suck you in a bit, and then hit you on the counter-attack. The fourth goal summed that up. "We sat a little bit deeper than usual and it was no secret we've tried to work on the defensive organisation of the team. We've made a few changes at the back and it's almost a brand new back four." The result sees Notts slip to 17th in League two with 30 points from 24 games. Credit to Dan Westwell for the image. Join in with the Pride of Nottingham match discussion - Here.