Newport County

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Former defender Mark O'Brien believes the combination of new manager David Hughes and returning assistant boss Wayne Hatswell could be a "recipe for success" for Newport County.

Hughes, 47, has signed a two-year deal at the League Two club, leaving his role as under-21s coach at Manchester United.

The Welshman replaces Nelson Jardim who left the Exiles two weeks before the end of a season which saw County finish 22nd in the league table.

Hatswell, 50, was previously number two at Newport under Mike Flynn and leaves a role in the Football Association of Wales (FAW) age-grade set-up to return to Rodney Parade.

"Realistically I think it's a really positive appointment and to add to that I think the appointment of Wayne Hatswell coming in alongside him is another massive thing for the club," O'Brien told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"He's someone who has probably been through a lot with Newport and seen a lot of positives so to add that experience along with a new manager who understands what it's like to work with young players - being at Manchester United's under-21s - there's going to be a level of standards that will be expected of the players next year.

"[Hatswell's] record speaks for itself where he's taken Newport to really big heights over seasons when I played there and hopefully Dave Hughes is going to be somebody who refines that a little bit more and who looks like he's going to be able to work with young players, which the Newport County squad have a lot of. It could be a very good recipe for success that has come in the door."

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Things may have gone quiet at Rodney Parade - too quiet for some fans - but Newport County still hope to appoint a new manager by the end of May.

Negotiations with Nelson Jardim's permanent successor are understood to be at an advanced stage and the League Two club could make an annoucement this week or next.

Chairman Huw Jenkins told BBC Sport Wales on 3 May he wanted to make the appointment within weeks, with Manchester United academy coach David Hughes then emerging as the leading contender for the vacant job.

Hughes would need to bring in his own coaching staff, with former assistant Dafydd Williams having left Newport after stepping in for the final two games of the 2024-25 season following Jardim's departure.

As the search for a new boss has continued, Jenkins has been conducting contract negotations with players the club want to retain for next season.

Four senior players have been offered new deals, but 10 of the squad have been told they can leave Rodney Parade.

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A 17-year-old who made his senior debut on the final day of the season is among five youngsters to have been handed their first professional deals by Newport County.

Moses-Alexander Walker came off the bench to make his maiden County appearance in the defeat by Tranmere Rovers at the start of the month.

The Bristol-born forward caught the eye and has been ed by four others from the club's academy to be offered senior contracts.

Corey Evans , Morgan Evans, Riley Lonergan and Sam Watkins - all 18 - have all also been invited to step up to the first-team having been part of the club's Under-18 side that reached the semi-finals of the FAW Youth Cup.

The club say the offers are part of "strengthening the club's ongoing commitment to developing homegrown talent and building a strong pathway from the academy to the first team".

Local boy Lonergan was also involved in senior matchday squads towards the end of the League Two campaign and has been offered a one-year deal, as has fellow midfielder Corey Evans.

Wideman Morgan Evans and defender Watkins have been offered six month deals.

Academy manager, Luke Hussey said: "We're incredibly proud to see Corey, Mo and Riley who have all been involved in first team squads offered professional contracts at the end of their scholarships, and to see Sam and Morgan rewarded with six-month deals.

"These offers are a reflection of the hard work and dedication shown by the players, and a testament to the belief the club has in our academy system. It's another clear sign that there is a genuine pathway at Newport County AFC for those who are willing to work hard for it."

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Newport County winger Bobby Kamwa's 30-yard screamer at Carlisle United has earned him a nomination for the EFL's League Two Goal of the Month award.

Kamwa opened the scoring in spectacular style at Brunton Park on 5 April, only for County to eventually lose 3-2 having been 2-0 up.

"Even a slip didn't affect Kamwa's equilibrium of balance and thought as he adjusted his feet, took one look up and floated a perfectly judged, angled 30-yard lob into the far top corner," said the Football League in its nominations list.

The 25-year-old, who ed County from Burton Albion in 2024, is one of four nominees for the award, along with Grimsby's Kieran Green, Tranmere Rovers' Omari Patrick and Harrogate Town's Josh March.

Fans can vote for their favourite on the EFL's website, with the winner announced on 16 May.

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David Ajiboye has been released by Peterborough United following his loan spell at Newport County.

The 26-year-old scored twice in 21 appearances for Newport after ing on loan in January.

He is now available on a free transfer having scored four goals in 73 games for Posh since ing them from Sutton United in 2022.

In March, then Exiles boss Nelson Jardim said Ajiboye "ticks all the boxes" at League Two level.

Jardim said he hoped Ajiboye would return to Rodney Parade, but it remains to be seen whether Newport – who are currently managerless - will look to sign the former Brighton youngster on a permanent deal.

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Caretaker boss Dafydd Williams wants to put smiles on fans' faces in Newport County's final match of the season - and get their "juices flowing" for 2025-26.

Williams, who took charge following Nelson Jardim's departure last month, says it has been a "disappointing" campaign with County sitting 21st in League Two, without a win in the past eight games.

But he wants to end the season on a high when they host Tranmere Rovers at Rodney Parade on Saturday, 3 May (15:00 BST), urging his players to show more grit and determination than they have at times this season.

"I want to see a Newport County performance. I want to see fighting spirit, aggression and a competitive edge to us," said Williams.

"I want us to get more attacking outcomes and defend our goal a bit better. There's been a lot this season where some might feel we've become disassociated with what a Newport team looks like and feels like.

"We want to give everyone a great afternoon to finish off what's been a disappointing season.

"I'd love nothing more than to give them that feeling at 5pm on Saturday that 'I've watched (a classic) Newport County today'.

"Hopefully they can see a performance that gets the juices flowing for next season."

Williams stepped in for the final two games of the season following Jardim's departure by mutual consent after just under a season in charge.

In recent months County have struggled to string wins together and climb the table, winning only two of their past 15 games.

But Williams, who says he is open to succeeding Jardim on a permanent basis if asked, believes fans can feel optimistic of improvements in 2025-26.

"I do think it's an exciting time for the club mid-to-long term," he said.

"Things need to change, we need to learn from a lot of things. But equally, if we can bring back that Newport County feeling on a Saturday afternoon, then I think it'd be a really enjoyable place to be, and something I'd love to be a part of."

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Newport County's defensive record from set-pieces this season has been an "absolute disgrace", according to interim boss Dafydd Williams.

The Exiles have conceded a league high of 72 goals this season.

According to WhoScored.com, they have conceded 28 times from set-pieces in League Two - again, the worst record in the division.

It means almost 40% of the goals they have shipped in the league this season have been from set-plays.

"Ultimately we've conceded another two set-pieces, it's been our Achilles heel all season," Williams told BBC Radio Wales in the aftermath of his side's 2-0 loss to Fleetwood Town.

"The number of goals we've conceded from set-plays has been an absolute disgrace, despite, even when Nelson [Jardim] was here, different of staff and input from the players to try and solve those problems.

"Three of staff have taken care of set-plays all season and they haven't been able to solve the problem. I've taken it upon myself in the last five or six games and we had another member of staff today helping out.

"The free-kick is a good free-kick to be fair. The corner, they (Fleetwood) literally did it against Harrogate the other week.

"To be fair to the staff, they showed them (Newport players) that clip in preparation for the game and they've scored from it.

"The players need to take ability, 100%, but equally we can all look at ourselves.

"We have to reflect on our roles and responsibilities as well, staff and players, because to concede that many set-plays is not good enough."

Newport sit 21st in the fourth tier ahead of their final game of the 2024-25 season against Tranmere Rovers at Rodney Parade on Saturday, 3 May (15:00 BST).

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Dafydd Williams says he remains unclear over his long-term future at Newport County following his first game as interim boss.

Williams was placed in temporary charge of the Exiles following the departure of Nelson Jardim.

He oversaw a 2-0 loss to Fleetwood Town on Saturday and will lead Newport in their final fixture of the 2024-25 League Two campaign against Tranmere Rovers at Rodney Parade on Saturday, 3 May (15:00 BST).

And Williams says his sole focus lies on ensuring Newport end their turbulent campaign in style to give ers hope for next season.

"I haven't been told anything," he told BBC Sport Wales.

"It was literally just to take the last two games, so full focus on next Saturday.

"Some people might look at it from a perspective that we haven't got anything to play for and it's a bit of a dead rubber. That's not the case.

"The focus and determination throughout the week will be exactly the same as it should be every other week.

"That will be relayed to the players. We want to go to Rodney Parade next Saturday and give the ers something to look forward to coming back in pre-season."

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James Clarke is expected to miss Newport County's final two matches of the season due to a suspected groin injury.

Club captain Clarke, 35, was withdrawn late on in the first half of the Exiles' 0-0 draw with Walsall at Rodney Parade on Monday.

Head coach Nelson Jardim says the central defender is unlikely to be available to feature in his side's matches against Fleetwood Town and Tranmere Rovers.

"Clarkey, he's been great, he's been playing a lot of games," said Jardim.

"We haven't been able to probably rotate the team as we wish because he brings that experience to the backline that we lacked for part of the season.

"We knew with two games within four days was not going to be easy, he had to come off in the last game as well because he had cramp.

"We felt that was the right decision to take, and it proved to be right, but with the cost of losing him, probably for the rest of the season which is two games now."

Versatile attacker Josh Martin was also replaced during the stalemate against promotion-chasing Walsall.

The 23-year-old suffered a head injury as a result of a collision with Saddlers goalkeeper Tommy Simkin deep into added time in the second half.

"That nasty clash, I have to watch that back again, I don't know what happened," said Jardim.

"I can recall at the beginning of the season, Jacob Carney getting sent off in a very similar situation with a Cheltenham player for the cup game.

"I have to look after the player. With the amount of blood he had in his face, that was serious."

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Nelson Jardim says he is proud of Newport County's efforts during the course of his debut campaign at the club so far.

They have endured numerous difficult spells since Jardim was named as Graham Coughlan's successor last summer and are currently winless in six matches.

The Exiles can mathematically clinch League Two survival on Monday when they host promotion-chasing Walsall at Rodney Parade (12:30 BST).

Despite plenty of ups and downs since being named as boss, Jardim believes the tougher experiences from the 2024-25 campaign will stand Newport in good stead in the long term.

"I'm proud of what we have been doing this season," he told BBC Radio Wales after his side's 0-0 draw at MK Dons on Friday.

"Sometimes things don't go our way. Set plays have let us down in a lot of games, but I'm pleased coming here (to MK Dons), we know they've got a really good manager with a project in front of him.

"I think this league, it's tough in every game. You can't say you're going to win or lose any game. It's about what you're able to deliver on the day.

"It's about being consistent. Sometimes teams are not able to do that and we went through those spells. We were expecting to have that this season.

"Hopefully next season the club will be much better. Hopefully that stability that the club needs, having been through this experience will help the club."

Walsall appeared destined to cruise to the League Two title earlier on this year.

But the Saddlers dropped out of the top three ahead of their trip to south Wales as their winless run was extended to 11 matches following a 2-2 draw with Harrogate Town.

Following the contest with Mat Sadler's side, Newport travel to Fleetwood Town on 26 April before rounding off the season at home against relegation-threatened Tranmere Rovers a week later.

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Newport County must handle the potential new manager bounce when they go to MK Dons on Friday.

The Dons will play their first game under former Rotherham and Derby boss Paul Warne, who has been appointed head coach following last month's departure of Scott Lindsey.

MK are 19th in the League Two table, one place and one point worse off than a Newport side who are also struggling for form.

The Dons are without a win in five matches – and head into Warne's debut as boss after four straight defeats – while Newport have also taken only one point from the past 15 on offer.

The Exiles go in search of just a fourth away league win this season against opponents who have managed only two victories in their past 11 home games.