FORMER Newport County AFC assistant manager Dino Maamria admits he and Graham Westley deserved to be sacked last season.

The duo were shown the door in March 2017 with County 11 points from safety at the bottom of the League Two table.

And Maamria, who returns to Rodney Parade for the first time tomorrow as the new manager of Stevenage, says he cannot argue with the board’s decision to axe him and number one Westley 13 months ago.

“I had a great time at Newport,” said the Tunisian. “I felt it was a brilliant club but that is probably the first time I leave a club with no resentment because we gave everything, and we were poor.


“As a management team we were poor and we did not do justice for the club and we were rightly sacked because were not good enough for that job at that time and it was difficult for us.”

While Michael Flynn orchestrated the Great Escape from relegation, Westley was out of work for 11 months.

In January he took over at this season’s basement boys Barnet but was sacked after just 11 games last month with the Bees still bottom.

Maamria took over at National League North club Nuneaton Town last October and their steady rise up the table earned him a return to Stevenage last month.


The 46-year-old was previously a player, coach and assistant manager at Boro under Westley and has now taken over the top job from Darren Sarll.

He enjoyed his first win – a 4-1 thumping of local rivals Barnet on Monday – and he’s looking forward to his return to Newport.

“Obviously they are having a brilliant season, I am delighted to see them do well,” he said.

“I love Mike Flynn, I have a good relationship with him, I have got a good relationship with lots of the players there and I have got a very good relationship with the supporters as well.

“It is good to see them do well this season, they have bounced back.

“I still think they have got a chance of the play-offs, so I am sure Saturday will be their last chance.


“They will be up for it, it is a tough place Newport, always has been, the fans get behind them and hopefully we can keep them quiet."

newgroundrodney wrote:I really hope Dino gets a reasonably welcoming reception cos I felt he quite liked the County fans...and they liked him I think.

George Cod wrote:

newgroundrodney wrote:I really hope Dino gets a reasonably welcoming reception cos I felt he quite liked the County fans...and they liked him I think.

The man was a bully. Have a read of Butlers piece in the argus and you may get an idea of his dislike for him. Certain players were singled out by him and his mate and routinely slaughtered. I personally don’t boo or abuse anyone but I certainly won’t be applauding him either.