Michael Flynn

Coaching career He earned his UEFA Pro Licence at the same time as Mikel Arteta. In 2015 he then joined Welsh Football League Division Two side Undy Athletic as player-coach, intend to combine this part-time role with a job as an estate agent or a publican. In January 2016 Warren Feeney was appointed team manager and Flynn was retained as first team coach. In July 2016 Newport County appointed Flynn to a newly created role as Football and Business Development Director. In October 2016 Flynn again rejoined the Newport County coaching staff under newly appointed manager Graham Westley.

Managerial career Newport County On 9 March 2017 Flynn was appointed caretaker manager of Newport County for the remainder of the 2016–17 season following the sacking of Graham Westley with Newport 11 points adrift at the bottom of League Two. Flynn said his wife didn't want him to take the job. On 9 May 2017 Flynn was appointed permanent team manager on a two-year contract.

On 7 January 2018 a 2–1 home win over Championship club Leeds United in the FA Cup third round meant Newport progressed to the FA Cup fourth round for the first time since 1979 and they were drawn at home to Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. On 27 January 2018 Newport achieved a 1–1 draw to force a replay at Tottenham's temporary home ground of Wembley Stadium. Tottenham won the replay 2–0. In Flynn's first full season in management Newport County finished the 2017–18 season in 11th place in League Two.

The following season, Flynn led Newport to another major FA Cup upset, with a 2–1 victory over Premier League side Leicester City to send them through to the fourth round of the competition. In the FA Cup fourth round Newport drew the away match 1–1 against Championship club Middlesbrough on 26 January 2019 and on 5 February 2019 County won the replay at home 2–0. The match provided the only managerial meeting of Flynn and fellow Pillgwenlly-born manager Tony Pulis. Pulis spoke highly about Newport's achievement after previous turmoil, describing Flynn as having achieved a "fantastic job" and also praising Newport's team management consultant Lennie Lawrence.

County progressed to the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 1949 and were drawn at home against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City. County lost the match 4–1. Before and after the match, Flynn received praise from a number of managers across the business, including his former UEFA pro-licence classmates Mikel Arteta and Thierry Henry, for progressing to the late stages of the competition. Flynn, a Liverpool fan, was also later invited by manager Jurgen Klopp to join a coaching session at Liverpool's Melwood ground.

Newport finished the 2018–19 season in seventh place in League Two, thus qualifying for the League Two play-offs. In the semi-final against Mansfield Town, Newport drew the first leg 1–1 at home, drew the second leg 0–0 at Mansfield and then won the semi-final penalty shoot-out. In the League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium on 25 May 2019 Newport lost to Tranmere Rovers, 1–0 after a goal in the 119th minute.

On 27 August 2019, Newport County faced West Ham United of the Premier League in Round 2 of the EFL Cup, losing the tie 2–0. In September 2019, Flynn was closely linked with the team manager vacancy at Lincoln City following the departure of Danny Cowley. County went on to confirm they had granted permission to "another EFL club" to interview Flynn. On 17 September Flynn confirmed through a club press release that he was no longer in talks for the prospective role. Newport also reached the semi-final of the EFL Trophy, losing to Salford City on penalties on 19 February 2020. On 19 February 2020 Newport reached the semi-final of the EFL Trophy, losing to Salford City on penalties. Points per game was subsequently adopted to determine the final League Two table with Newport County rising one place to 14th in the league.

On 22 September 2020 Newport County beat Championship club Watford 3–1 at home in the third round of the EFL Cup to reach the fourth round for the first time in the club's history. Newport were drawn at home to Premier League club Newcastle United in the fourth round and after drawing 1–1 in normal time, Newcastle won the penalty shoot-out. Flynn won the League Two Manager of the Month award for October 2020 after Newport won six of their seven league games in October, leaving Newport top of the League Two table. Newport again reached the third round of the 2020–21 FA Cup to face Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion at home on 10 January 2021. Newport lost to Brighton on penalties having drawn 1–1 after extra time. Newport finished the 2020–21 season in 5th place in League Two and qualified for the play-offs. In the semi-final against Forest Green Rovers, Newport won the first leg 2–0 at home and lost the second leg away 4–3, progressing to the final 5–4 on aggregate. In the League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium on 31 May 2021 Newport lost 1–0 to Morecambe after a controversial 107th-minute penalty. On 7 June 2021 Darren Kelly was appointed as Newport County Sporting Director to work in conjunction with Michael Flynn who retained the team manager role.

On 25 August 2021 Newport County faced Southampton of the Premier League in the second round of the 2021–22 EFL Cup but they lost heavily 8–0. Flynn was unable to attend the match as he was isolating after testing positive for COVID-19. Flynn resigned on 1 October 2021 after nine league matches of the 2021–22 season with Newport 15th in League Two. Newport's assistant manager Wayne Hatswell was appointed as caretaker team manager. Hatswell managed Newport for four unbeaten League Two matches before the appointment of James Rowberry as Newport manager on 19 October 2021 with Newport 13th in League Two after 13 matches of the 2021–22 season. Hatswell was retained by Newport as assistant manager to Rowberry.

Walsall On 15 February 2022, Flynn was appointed Head Coach of League Two side Walsall on a contract until 2024 with Walsall in 18th place in League Two. Flynn's first match in charge saw his new side travel away to Forest Green Rovers and defeat the league leaders 1–0, a George Miller goal ending the hosts' nineteen game unbeaten run. On 22 February 2022, Wayne Hatswell rejoined Flynn as assistant head coach. Walsall finished the 2021–22 season in 16th place in League Two.

Fourteen points from seven matches led to Flynn being awarded the League Two Manager of the Month award for October 2022 having guided Walsall up the table. On 19 April 2023, Flynn and Hatswell were sacked with Walsall in 15th place after 42 games of the 2022-23 League Two season.

Swindon Town On 8 May 2023, Flynn was appointed manager of Swindon Town on a two-year contract, officially taking charge following the last match of the season that same day. Wayne Hatswell was appointed assistant manager to Flynn.

In November 2023, Flynn and Hatswell both signed contract extensions to keep them at the club until June 2026. On 15 January 2024, Flynn and Hatswell departed Swindon with the club in 15th position, having lost ten of their last 15 matches.

Cheltenham Town On 31 May 2024, Flynn was appointed manager of EFL League Two side Cheltenham Town.

On 20 September 2025, Flynn was sacked following a 3–0 home defeat to Oldham Athletic that left the club sitting bottom of the league with just four points from nine matches.

Personal life

Born in Newport, he was born to his mother Kerry and father John, both of Bettws. His mother had Michael at the age of 20 and he grew up with his great-aunt Sheila and great-uncle Ted on Baldwin Street in the Pillgwenlly area of Newport. His uncle worked at Newport Docks. Flynn has spoken of his uncle and aunt's Catholic values and its influence on his upbringing. He also described himself as a shy child, and a short but keen young footballer. He played for a range of youth sides including Albion Rovers Under 10s, Pill AFC, Newport Civil Service and Newport YMCA.

Flynn worked part-time jobs early in his career, stacking shelves while a youth player for Newport. He worked as a postman in 2001 prior to his first professional contract with Barry Town. Flynn married Victoria in 2016, and has five children; one daughter and two sons from previous relationships: Dionne (b. 2000), Charlie (b. 2014) and Theo (b. 2014) and two sons with Victoria: Edward (b. 2015) and Samuel (b. 2017).

Flynn went to St Joseph's High School as a child, where he was a schoolmate of former West Ham United player and Wales international James Collins, who is two years younger than Flynn. Flynn attended Staffordshire University obtaining a 2:1 degree in BA Sports Journalism and Media Law. Flynn holds a UEFA Pro Licence, which he obtained alongside Thierry Henry at the Football Association of Wales Dragon Park headquarters in 2013. He is a director of the Newport estate agent named Crook, Hudson & Flynn since 2014, and he was a director of estate agency David Spencer Limited until 2022.

In January 2026, Flynn became the first person since 2019 to be inducted into the Newport County Hall of Fame.

Managerial statistics + Managerial record by team and tenure

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Newport County

Conference Premier play-offs: 2013 April 2019, October 2020, October 2022