NEW assistant manager Warren Feeney says the lure of being reunited with his family and returning to the Football League with Newport County AFC was too great to turn down.

The former Northern Ireland international left his role as manager of Linfield last night to link up again with new Exiles boss John Sheridan, who managed him at Plymouth Argyle.

Feeney previously played for Cardiff City and Swansea City and his family remained in South Wales when he returned home to Belfast to take over at Linfield last year.

“It was a tough decision for me to make but I’m selfish; I want to be the best and go to the highest level,” said the 34-year-old on his move to Rodney Parade.

“I had some thinking to do but I’ve made the right decision I think with the lure of my family over there and the lure of full-time football at a League club.

“The [Linfield] board were fantastic; they offered me an extension but the lure of my family literally on my doorstep – it’s my family home where I will settle – and working with a fantastic manager in John Sheridan [was too much to turn down].

“He’s played at the highest level, he’s a winner in the league, he’s been promoted in the league.”

The length of Feeney’s contract with the Exiles is unclear with the club refusing to confirm if it runs until the end of this season, like Sheridan’s, or longer.

He added: “I’m still learning myself and I’ve got to be grateful to Linfield Football Club.

“I know there’s going to be a lot of angry people but unfortunately that’s football.

“Sometimes you look back and think ‘is it an opportunity I should have taken if I didn’t?’ “The board did all they could to keep me but I’d made my decision by then and I’m looking for this new challenge now in a fantastic league.

“It’s going to be a challenge but it’s one I’m looking forward to.”

Linfield chairman Jim Kerr said: "He leaves with the club sitting at the top of the league and that is down, in no small part, to Warren.

"The club did make him an improved contract extension, but his family played a major part in his decision to go.”