FORMER Newport County AFC manager John Sheridan finally looks set to move to League Two rivals Notts County – five months after he was first linked to the job.

Sheridan helped the Exiles off the bottom of the table after replacing Terry Butcher last October.

And that caught the attention of Notts County as they looked to replace sacked manager Ricardo Moniz in late December.

Sheridan was favourite for the job over the Christmas and New Year period but continually played down the link before the Magpies appointed Jamie Fullarton.

Sheridan eventually left Rodney Parade for Oldham in January and guided the Latics to safety in League One.

He was heavily linked with a move to Leeds United earlier this month but is now once again favourite to move to Meadow Lane, where he would be reunited with former Exiles chief executive Jason Turner.

Sources in the north-west have confirmed the Magpies are seriously interested in Sheridan as a successor to Mark Cooper – who left for Forest Green Rovers this month having replaced Fullarton in March.

The Nottingham Post reports that Sheridan’s arrival could be announced in the coming days but the two clubs would have to agree compensation for his services.

Sheridan's odds have shortened dramatically in the last 24 hours and it has now led Sky Bet to suspend all betting on who will become the club's new manager.

During his time in Newport Sheridan denied there was any truth in the stories linking him with a move to the Midlands club.

But, before the two sides met in Nottingham in December, he told the Argus: “Notts County are a team I actually fancied this season.

“When you look at the team on paper – the quality of the team they’ve got – I was expecting them to do a little bit better than they are doing.

“But like most teams in this division they can go on a run of four or five games and they are a strong team at home.

“You’ve only got to look at the strikers – when you’ve got Stead and [Izale] McLeod in your team in this league you’re fancied to score one or two goals.

“On their day they’re probably one of the better teams in this division.”

Meanwhile, former Exiles coach Matthew Bishop has left his role as assistant manager at Hereford FC to take over as boss of Welsh Premier League side Aberystwyth Town.