A Newport fans view of Newport County

With the second season syndrome successfully negotiated we move into our third season in League 2 with many changes to face up to. The loss of our Chairman, Les Scadding has been a blow and it has meant that austerity has come to Rodney Parade, the playing budget has been reduced and new boss Terry Butcher will have his work cut out since only retaining a handful of last year’s squad.

It’s long since dawned on me that the heights of our ninth placed finish last campaign is unlikely to be repeated, however the new Gaffer is building a new squad largely sourced from the Conference and it is hoped that they bring a new hunger for success to the club that only the step up from a Semi-Professional league to a Professional league can bring.

However some key players do remain from last season, stopper Joe Day may expect to be a little busier this season but is one of the top goalkeepers in the division and Irish midfielder Mark Byrne is the Duracell bunny that covers every blade of the Rodney Parade turf. Local defenders Andrew Hughes and Regan Poole have also been on the radar of bigger clubs and can be expected to do well this season also.