The appointment of experienced hand Howard Wilkinson as non-executive director just days before also brought added and much-needed optimism on top of the usual bout that comes with the dawn of a new year.
As did the Magpies' 2-0 win over Cheltenham on New Years' Day. The win signalled Notts' first away victory under Ian Richardson and came-about thanks to goals from Glynn Hurst and Chris Palmer, though it was largely thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Saul Deeney.
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Richardson's Magpies could only stumble to a 0-0 draw at home to the NINE men of Rochdale, leaving them lying 20th in League Two.
Inconsistency was to continue throughout January, with some of both the best and worst performances of the season coming within weeks of each other.
The next action for Notts came with the visit of Premiership Middlesborough, provoking much excitement amongst the Magpie faithful keen to lift some gloom that had been provided so far in the campaign.
Almost predictably, the Magpies managed to raise their game infinetly for the visit of 'Boro. The home side even managed to take the lead when winger Tony Scully - himself the dictionary definition of inconsistent - saw his effort deflected into the net.
The Premiership side would eventually avenge a 1-0 half time deficit via goals from Doriva and Joseph Job, but the Magpies won many plaudits following their brave 2-1 defeat.
The performance proved significant, with the Notts board announcing - after much pressure from the local media and the players themselves - Richardson as boss until the end of the season.
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The Monday following the weekend's draw though, will be forever etched into many Notts supporters minds as the news no-one wanted to hear filtered through.
Fahrudin Kuduzovic had left the club.
The young Bosnian midfielder - who had become a NCM cult figure for no apparent reason - saw his non-contract deal terminated by Richardson and went on to sign for Irish outfit Sligo Rovers.
Good news did arrive though, when it was announced that Whitlow's injury wasn't as bad as initially feared, with his absence being measured in weeks - rather than months.
Meanwhile, Youth Team coach Neville Hamilton became the latest of former manager Gary Mills' backroom staff to depart, following the earlier dismissals of Steve Spooner and Darron Gee.
On-the-pitch, and Notts were to continue their unbeaten league run, with an extremely impressive 2-0 win at home to then-top Scunthorpe United.
Goals from strike pairing Hurst and Gavin Gordon - the only time the front pairing were to net in the same game all season - gave the Magpies an excellent win.
The victory also signalled something else, with the possibility of record-breaking very much in attendance. Notts - inspired by on-form goalkeeper Deeney - had kept an impressive five successive clean sheets in the league.
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What followed though, served as the best possible illustration of Notts' season as a whole.
The Magpies' were brutally outclassed on home territory, with the final result a 5-0 defeat. To Maccesfield Town. At home.
It was shambolic stuff from Richardson's men, who had been showing signs of improvement in recent weeks. The phrase being brought back to Earth with a bang springs to mind.
The Magpies then ended the month with a 2-0 defeat at mid-table Leyton Orient.
Just a day prior to the game, 18-year-old Charlton keeper Rob Elliot was brought in on a months loan, after Wayne Henderson had taken the decision to return to parent club Aston Villa.
Henderson had impressed when given the chance, but was unable to dislodge the excellent Deeney - who was playing the best football of his Notts career - from between the sticks.