Goalkeeper player/coach James Bittner and fellow first-team coach Sean McCarthy were named joint caretaker managers.

Newport-born Mike Flynn, who had been brought back as a player by Westley, took over as manager, with Lennie Lawrence as assistant.

The next game at promotion-chasing Plymouth Argyle was lost 6–1, confirming the host's place in League One, but with relegation rivals Hartlepool United losing 2–1 at bottom-of-the-table Leyton Orient, County were only one point behind them.

At home to Accrington Stanley, County recorded another vital 1–0 win to climb out of the bottom two for the first time in five months, two points clear of Hartlepool.

However, two goals from Carlisle in the second half meant that both Newport and Hartlepool lost, leaving County still two points clear with a single game remaining.

In the second half, Jorge Grant scored an equaliser for Notts County in the 62nd minute — Newport were now only three points clear, but still safe.

With the clock ticking down to full-time, County defender Mark O'Brien pushed forward in the 89th minute and scored the winner for Newport to complete the Great Escape and relegate Pools.

In the EFL Trophy, County finished bottom of Group B following defeats to Plymouth Argyle and the Swansea City Under-23s, and a sole win against AFC Wimbledon.

They were awarded a second with 10 minutes of extra time remaining and Graham Carey made no mistake to score the winner and send Plymouth to Anfield.