Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyImage caption, Newport County were bottom of League Two when Christian Fuchs became manager in November 2025
BySimon DaviesBBC Sport Wales- Published32 minutes ago
Following the relief of a final day escape, Christian Fuchs knows he has a big summer ahead.
Having steered Newport County to English Football League (EFL) survival, the 40-year-old Austrian took a big intake of breath. This season has, by his own admission, been "stressful".
That stress was plain to see with 15 minutes remaining of Newport's final match of the season at Barrow. A goal down and with results elsewhere not going their way, County were heading out of the EFL.
But goals from Tom Davies and Bobby Kamwa saved County's league status and left Fuchs immediately planning ahead for another campaign in the EFL's lowest tier.
But could his achievements attract interest elsewhere, most notably from his former club Leicester City?
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After the Foxes' relegation from the Championship and the end of current boss Gary Rowett's short-term contract, many Leicester fans have already told the BBC of their desire to see the Austrian back at the King Power Stadium.
"It has to be title-winning Christian Fuchs," said one fan to BBC Sport.
"He could build a new young team and be an inspiring in-house leader like Michael Carrick at Manchester United."
Newport County chairman Huw Jenkins will, of course, be quick to point out that Fuchs has committed to what was described back in November as a "long-term contract", at a time when the Exiles were bottom of League Two.
Interest from Leicester could well pull on the heartstrings of Fuchs.
As it happens, the win at Barrow came 10 years to the day after Leicester's famous Premier League title win, a fact not lost on the man himself:
"It was meant to be, I guess," Fuchs said, amid wild Newport celebrations at Holker Street.
"It's a very nice side note as well, absolutely, but I would have been very happy if we could have done it a little bit earlier this season. It is what it is, and we've done it."
There is no firm suggestion yet that Leicester are considering a move for Fuchs, and the current bookies' favourite appears to be former Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson.
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Figure caption,Fuchs: 'That's the goal' to make sure we move forward and are not in this position next season
But if Fuchs is considering his next managerial move, he is certainly playing his cards close to his chest. In fact, he says work has already begun on preparations to improve upon County's position of 20th, after a season mostly spent in and around the relegation zone.
"That's the goal, right? We've definitely got to review the whole season, not only the period when I was here, but from the very beginning, to see what mistakes have been made, definitely," he said.
"But then also, you have those two games that finished the season [that has put the club] in a good place and to push forward.
"We cannot just sit around and see what will happen next season, we need to push forward and need to better the team, need to use that momentum that we just created to push forward."
Whatever happens in the next campaign, it will certainly be a new-look County squad, with as many as 17 players either out of contract or returning to parent clubs after loan deals.
For Fuchs, keeping key players like Kamwa – who scored vital goals in the final two games of the season – and captain Matt Baker, will be vital. Not to mention stalwarts such as Courtney Baker-Richardson and Cameron Evans.
Loan stars Sven Sprangler, Ryan Delaney, Harrison Biggins and Ben Lloyd have also played their part.
When asked when the recruitment strategy starts for the new season, Fuchs said: "It's immediately, yes. All that has started already but I'm also looking forward now to a few days off my phone. You cannot really turn it off all the time, but I'm actually really looking forward to after a couple of days.
"To go through those ups and downs – and too many downs for my taste - then at the end to come out on top has just been incredible.
"I like to be in the background and do my job and be humble, but it also felt good, to be honest."
Most County fans will be hoping that feel-good factor continues next season, with Fuchs in charge.
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