CHRIS Hughes marks his sixth anniversary at the helm of Newtown Football Club at home to Caernarfon Town tonight (Friday.)

The Robins go into the game desperate for three points to revive their bid for a top finish before the mid-season split in January.

Hughes insisted the Robins’ mixed start to the campaign had not already cost his side a place in the top six but expected a tough test against the inform Canaries.

Hughes took over after Bernard McNally departed for a brief spell at the helm of Shrewsbury Town’s academy.

The Denbigh based coach has never looked back and masterminded the club’s march to the Welsh Cup final and qualification for Europe in 2015.

“I came from Prestatyn where we had won the cup, won in Europe and then this opportunity came up and I went for it, I wanted to test myself,” said Hughes.

During his tenure the Robins boss has earned a reputation for rebuilding squads and unearthing gems.

Craig Williams and Dave Jones remain the club’s longest serving players with Hughes admitting it is a constant battle to remain competitive in a league dominated by professional clubs TNS and Connahs Quay Nomads.

“We’ve had to put squads together, put them back together,” said Hughes.

“We’ve had our ups and downs, but we have recruited well when we have had to and kept putting together teams having lost players.

“We have a great relationship with the board and everyone at the club and work hard to continue to be competitive.”

Hughes and assistant Callum McKenzie have instilled a footballing ethos at the club which has filtered down to academy level as the club keep one eye on the future.

“I think the ethos of the club has really changed, the 3G helped and everything has benefited the academy,” said Hughes.

“The way the academy has come on in the last 18 months with Craig Williams in charge has been great, the under 19s are looking good, the 12s and 15s have also progressed.

“Things have changed on that front and I am pleased to say I’ve had a part in that.”

Hughes is only the club’s sixth manager since 1992 and follows Brian Coyne, Roger Preece, Darren Ryan, Andy Cale, Bernard McNally at the helm.

However Hughes’ success and style of football has ingratiated him to supporters with many labelling the popular North Walian as the club’s best modern era manager.

Hughes remained hungry to bring success to Latham Park.

“I’m still hungry here at Newtown and I want to carry on making this club as good as it can be,” said Hughes.

“I think I read the other day the average lifespan of a manager is 13 months, so I am proud that my first job has lasted this long, it shows we have done something right.

“Being part-time brings its own difficulties in this job. I would never say never about going higher, but at the moment the job I have is the most important thing.

“In football, you can never say never, but I’ve never had that offer.