CARETAKER boss Wayne Hatswell has set himself the target of handing over to the new manager with Newport County AFC in the League Two play-off spots.

Coach Hatswell will be in charge at Exeter City tomorrow afternoon, his fourth game as boss after the sudden departure of Michael Flynn.

He has led the Exiles to a 3-0 win over struggling Scunthorpe and a 0-0 draw at Bradford City, while on Tuesday a much-changed side was beaten 4-3 by Arsenal U21s in the EFL Trophy.

County are 13th in the congested table, three points off fourth-placed Port Vale and four back on third-placed Swindon, and the next batch of games will be a test of their promotion credentials.

They travel to Devon this weekend then host Carlisle, who are also without a manager, and travel to Bristol Rovers.

The games are taking place while County are looking for their next permanent boss and Hatswell wants to ensure he takes charge of a team on the up.

“The quality that we’ve got in the dressing room is capable of putting an unbeaten run together,” he said. “That’s a challenge in a tough league but it’s something that we are capable of doing.

“If whoever comes in picks up off the back of the team winning a couple of games, picking up points and going in the right direction that would be great.

“We want to get in that top five if we can, especially over the next few weeks and we are striving for back-to-back wins.”

Hatswell has said he doesn’t want the top job permanently but that he is happy to hold the reins while sporting director Darren Kelly leads the search for a new man.

That means the caretaker boss will call the shots in Exeter and, given the short turnaround, it would be likely that he is in charge against Carlisle on Tuesday and possibly in Bristol next weekend.

South Wales Argus: BOSS: Wayne Hatswell is holding the reins for CountyBOSS: Wayne Hatswell is holding the reins for County

“I’ve not got a crystal ball. I just have to keep everyone enjoying it, healthy and with smiles on faces, that’s what we do here,” said Hatswell.

“We will be fully prepared on the pitch and off the pitch; all I want is that they give their all and that is what they have done for me since the gaffer left.

“You never know who is going to be watching or who is in the stand. We are just trying to keep ticking along and let the football do the talking.”

Hatswell also knows that County will need to be on song to leave St James Park with something to show for their efforts against an Exeter side who have lost just once this season.

The Grecians have been frustrated at their inability to turn draws into wins but are likely to be among the clubs jostling for promotion.

“They are resolute, they are experienced and have a big squad,” said Hatswell. “Matty Taylor has had a lot more money this year after the club had a couple of windfalls from certain players leaving.

“He has been able to bolster the squad and that will come through when other teams are struggling with fitness problems.

“They are probably like us in the season before last when we picked up a few too many draws, you always want to turn them into wins but it can also go the other way.

“When drawing you can always be susceptible to that counter-attack, like we were last week against Bradford when Joe Day made a good save at the end. There are fine lines in football.”