Mullins Era Begins
Newport County Appoints Hayden Mullins, Premier League Cup-Winning Fulham U21 Coach, as New Manager
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Key Points
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Before taking the Newport County job, Mullins twice served as caretaker manager for Watford’s first team (in 2019 after Quique Sánchez Flores left and in 2020 after Nigel Pearson departed).
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He was Colchester United’s head coach during the 2021-22 period, marking his second EFL head coaching role after progressing from Colchester’s staff to the top job in 2021.
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As a player, Mullins was an England Under-21 international and had senior spells with Crystal Palace, West Ham United and Portsmouth.
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While at Fulham, Mullins led the Under-21s to the Premier League Cup title in 2024, including a 4-0 final win over Tottenham Hotspur U21s.
Newport County have appointed Hayden Mullins as their new manager, the League Two club confirmed. Mullins, 47, takes over from Christian Fuchs, who resigned after keeping Newport in the EFL, according to Wales Online.
The former Premier League midfielder brings senior management experience from spells at Colchester United and Watford. He spent the last three years coaching Fulham's under-21 side before returning to first-team management, Nation Cymru reported.
Fuchs Exits, Mullins Steps In Immediately
Christian Fuchs resigned in late June after securing Newport's EFL survival. Chris Todd then stepped in as caretaker while the club searched for a permanent replacement, Wales Online reported. Mullins' appointment ends that interim spell, with the new manager taking charge with immediate effect.
Assistant manager Mark Smith also departed as part of a small reshuffle. Mullins described the role as "a fantastic opportunity" to lead a club with strong potential, according to Nation Cymru. He pledged to prepare the squad thoroughly ahead of the new season.
Mullins' Playing Career and Coaching Rise
As a player, Mullins was an England under-21 international. He had senior spells at Crystal Palace, West Ham United and Portsmouth. That Football League and Premier League experience forms the foundation of his coaching career, Wales Online noted.
Mullins moved into management after retiring. He twice served as Watford's caretaker manager — first in 2019 after Quique Sánchez Flores left, then again in 2020 after Nigel Pearson departed. He then took the permanent head coach role at Colchester United in 2021, per Gazette News.
Fulham Cup Glory Before Newport Call
Mullins spent three years in Fulham's academy setup after leaving Colchester. There, he led the under-21s to the Premier League Cup title in 2024. The final was convincing — a 4-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur's under-21 side, Head Topics reported.
That success raised his profile and led to Newport's approach. He also gained international experience as a coach with the Turks and Caicos Islands national team. The Newport job marks his return to senior EFL management after a three-year break from that level.
Pre-Season Friendlies and a League Two Opener
Mullins hits the ground running. Newport's pre-season schedule starts with a clash against Yeovil. That is followed by a high-profile friendly against Serie A side AS Roma, giving the squad an early test against top-level opposition, according to Wales Online.
Competitive action begins with a Carabao Cup tie before the League Two campaign kicks off. Newport's first league game of the 2025-26 season is at home to Rochdale. Mullins has little time to settle in before the real work begins, Gazette News noted.
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