CRISIS club Newport remain in receivership, but their darkest days appear to be behind them.

Saturday's 2-0 victory over St Leonards provided a ray of sunshine on the pitch and there is hint of brighter news off it with an announcement expected this week that all, or at least part, of the club is set to be sold.

Director of football Tony Mount confirmed: "There are a couple of interested parties in buying a piece of land (believed to be the club's training pitch), which would suit the chairman, and a couple more interested in buying the whole club.

"I'm more optimistic now than I was when the receivers came in over a week ago. The main objective is that the club survives, be it with Bill Manuel (chairman) carrying on or with a new owner coming in."

Manuel certainly doesn't look like a man who is turning his back on the club. The Portsmouth-based businessman was watching from the stand on Saturday as Port pulled themselves out of the Eastern Division drop zone at the expense of a St Leonard's side who are also knee-deep in problems, both on and off the pitch.

Manuel has taken his fair share of flack since putting the club into voluntary receivership, but Port's player-manager Steve Tate insisted: "The chairman loves this club. He's like a kid when we score, jumping up and down, and if that doesn't show the fans what he wants for Newport then nothing will.

"It's the same with Tony (Mount). If things aren't going well, he's the first person on the phone to pick me up. They both want what's best for Newport and it seems strange they're being subjected to a bit of stick."

Newport's players are showing no signs of pressure. Urged on by a supportive crowd of 315, they chalked up their fourth win from the last five league and cup games.

Gareth Keeping, an inspired midfield signing from Lymington & New Milton, broke the deadlock in the 68th minute after visiting 'keeper Peter Newstead had been beaten by Ashley Wright's low cross from the left.

And it was Island boy Wright who made the game safe in the 89th-minute, succeeding where he had earlier failed by sliding the ball past Newstead in a one-on-one.

The outcome was sweet relief for Newport's recent strike signing Jamie O'Rourke, who should have put his side ahead on the hour mark.

But when he stepped up to the penalty spot following a handball offence by St Leonard's' player-manager Terry White, the former Havant & Waterlooville hot-shot skied the kick way over.

Tate knew exactly how he felt. He said: "I missed a penalty myself at the same end of the ground once and everyone laughed at me. Jamie's taken some stick in the dressing room about the ball being spotted above Portsmouth, but I'd still rather have my centre-forward taking the penalties than anyone else."

Singling out defender Danny Rofe for special praise, Tate was delighted with the commitment of his players - even if the performance left a bit to be desired.

He said: "This is the first time in four or five matches that we didn't play to our full potential, but still everyone gave 100 per cent effort and kept plugging away.

"I've surrounded myself with people who want to play for this football club and I'm dead proud to be their manager.

"Hopefully the club will get the good news we've been waiting for this week and then we can really start to progress. It's frightening to think what we can achieve if we all stick together."