Nick Townsend leaves League Two Newport County for Eastleigh
The 30-year-old goalkeeper entered negotiations with the Exiles at the end of last season but opted for a fresh challenge after seven years at Rodney Parade.
The Antigua & Barbuda international, who racked up 209 appearances to become a County great, will now drop out of the Football League to play for the Spitfires.
Eastleigh finished 13th out of 24 in the National League last season and Townsend will play under a boss who is a former goalkeeper, former Southampton, Wimbledon and Ipswich stopper Kelvin Davis.
It is fair to assume that the contract length and financial package made the move to the south coast more attractive than staying in League Two on fresh County terms for stalwart Townsend.
Arguably the Exiles are only still in the fourth tier thanks to his performances, particularly in a vital run of wins in February.
LEGEND: Goalkeeper Nick Townsend passed 200 appearances for County (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)
'I'm glad it's all done now and it's an exciting start for me and my family to have a fresh start down here,' said the Brummie, who made the second most amount of saves in the EFL last season behind Stoke's Viktor Johansson.
Townsend faced Eastleigh twice in 2024 when County earned a shot at Manchester United in the FA Cup by winning a replay at Silverlake Stadium 3-1 after a 1-1 draw at Rodney Parade.
County currently have just one goalkeeper, Jacob Carney, on the books after the departures of Townsend and Lewis Webb, who failed to make an appearance after arriving midway through last season as back-up.
Carney struggled when he got chances in his first season in Newport and the Exiles are closing in on a new stopper, who is likely to be first choice.
'Manager David Hughes has been prioritising a replacement and the club has already agreed personal terms with a new number one, due to be announced in due course,' said a County statement when confirming Townsend's exit.
The Exiles are still in negotiations with three experienced players over fresh terms – centre-back James Clarke, midfielder Aaron Wildig and full-back/midfielder Shane McLoughlin.
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