FLINT TOWN UNITED boss Neil Gibson was not joking when he threw down a challenge to comedian Jason Manford ahead of Tuesday's trip to Newtown in the Cymru Premier League.

Last week, Manford shared a snap on his social media profiles donning a Flint Town United jacket – branded with his initials – along with a post reading: “Gaffer is getting ready!” as he embarked on a career as a virtual boss at The Essity Stadium on the Football Manager 2021 computer game.

Gibson said: “We’d more than welcome Jason alongside us in the dug out but if he brings his boots there’s a good chance he might even get a game with the amount of players we’ve got missing.

“Seriously though it’s great PR for the club. Jason’s given us bit of exposure and someone from the club has obviously got in touch to send him the tracksuit top.”

Gibson quickly switched his attention to tonight’s re-match with Newtown - the team that beat them 2-0 at home a week ago.

“We weren’t at the races last week and conceded two goals from set-pieces, which was really disappointing,” added the Flint boss, who is best friends with the man facing him at Latham Park this evening, Chris Hughes.

Hughes was Gibson’s right hand man during their successful spell at Prestatyn Town.

“We normally speak most days but the last week has been different with us facing each other twice,” said Gibson.

“They are flying and looking good bets to finish top of our table and make it into the play-offs.

“They’ve got some very good attacking players and Chris has assembled a really good squad of players heading into the second phase of the season.

“They put five past Druids on Saturday and their confidence will be high. But we’ve got to go there and throw a spanner in the works.”

The man in form for Newtown is former Wrexham star Jordan Evans, who added two more to his tally against Druids in Saturday’s big win.

Flint, who have slipped back into the bottom two despite picking up a point in a 0-0 draw at Haverfordwest County on Saturday, had seven players missing at the weekend.

Experienced defender Kai Edwards was suspended for the Pembrokeshire trip while striker Jordan Buckley is banned tonight.

“The suspensions are something we’re not happy about,” added Gibson.

“We’ve lost Kai, Jordan and Josh Amis recently because they’ve picked up five bookings.

“Most leagues don’t keep the five bookings rule going this far into the season and it is something a number of clubs have asked the Welsh FA to look into.”

Cardiff Met, who are one place ahead of Flint in the Play-off Conference table, head to Haverfordwest tonight.