Latest news with #Exiles
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former captain O'Brien's new role with Exiles
Newport County have appointed former defender and ex-club captain Mark O'Brien as club ambassador. The 32-year-old's role will see him working in the community, supporting matchday hosting duties at Rodney Parade and assisting the club's commercial department. O'Brien made more than 120 appearances for the Exiles and in 2017 his late winner against Notts County saw Newport pull off an astonishing League Two relegation escape on the final day of the season. He was forced to retire at the age of 27 in 2020 because of heart issues that required surgery and subsequently became the club's player liaison officer. "This club means everything to me,'' said the Irishman, who has also worked as a Radio Wales summariser since he retired from playing. "The club and the community stuck by me when I had my heart problem and this is my opportunity to give something back for that support. "I'm really looking forward to developing the new role, my new life and new career. "I've been helping the club on the field, and training ground, for nearly 10 years. Now I want to make a difference off the field as well."
BBC News
7 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Former captain O'Brien's new role with Exiles
Newport County have appointed former defender and ex-club captain Mark O'Brien as club 32-year-old's role will see him working in the community, supporting matchday hosting duties at Rodney Parade and assisting the club's commercial department.O'Brien made more than 120 appearances for the Exiles and in 2017 his late winner against Notts County saw Newport pull off an astonishing League Two relegation escape on the final day of the was forced to retire at the age of 27 in 2020 because of heart issues that required surgery and subsequently became the club's player liaison officer."This club means everything to me,'' said the Irishman, who has also worked as a Radio Wales summariser since he retired from playing."The club and the community stuck by me when I had my heart problem and this is my opportunity to give something back for that support."I'm really looking forward to developing the new role, my new life and new career."I've been helping the club on the field, and training ground, for nearly 10 years. Now I want to make a difference off the field as well."
South Wales Argus
12-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Oliver Greaves scores in Newport County 1-0 win at Worcester
The forward struck at Sixways Stadium when he converted a Cameron Evans cross after 34 minutes. It was a second 1-0 win on the spin for David Hughes' men after they triumphed at Undy AFC, that after a 1-1 draw at Pontypridd. The Exiles will continue their preparations for the Carabao Cup clash at Barnet on July 29 when they travel to Weston-super-Mare on Tuesday and then Torquay United. Chances were limited in the stifling heat but Greaves, who had a mixed first campaign at Rodney Parade due to niggles and being out of favour, boosted his first team hopes with his finish from eight yards out. County gave action to most of their squad – although the artificial surface meant some weren't risked – but were given a scare when centre-back Jaden Warner was forced off in the second half. Hughes' first team have two games next week then a behind closed doors fixture at Bristol City's training base before their opener at Barnet. They then kick off League Two with a home encounter against Notts County.
South Wales Argus
11-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Newport County need more goal threats in 2025/26 League Two
The Exiles finished in the last safe position in League Two but their goals scored column was reasonable until the problematic run-in that saw them slide down the table. County finished with 52 goals, joint 15th in the division, despite firing blanks in four of the last five fixtures. The biggest questions at the end of what turned out to be a worrying campaign were about their resilience, fight and ability to mix it physically when teams went direct. Yet they were also a little too easy to contain when they had the ball. According to stats site Fotmob, only Harrogate were worse for expected goals, they were ranked last for shots on target per match and touches in the opposition box while they were 20th for big chances created. New boss David Hughes and his coaches are tasked with making County a tougher nut to crack – and the size profile of their goalkeepers is a nod to set-piece weakness – but they also want to get them posing more problems in attack. On that front, his predecessor Nelson Jardim was badly hit when Wildig made a rash challenge against Grimsby in Newport on November 16 and ruptured his knee ligaments. The midfielder had been a key part of the attack and chipped in with four goals in 17 appearances in all competitions. That was a final tally that only two players managed to beat. Top scorer Bobby Kamwa scored nine goals, which certainly isn't a disastrous tally. However, the winger played in 48 games and scored in five of them with his final figure boosted by hat-tricks against Milton Keynes Dons and Gillingham. TARGET: Courtney Baker-Richardson will eye more goals for County (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency) Kyle Hudlin was in second place with six while three players joined Wildig on four – defenders Matt Baker and Cameron Evans plus striker Courtney Baker-Richardson. Baker-Richardson had returned to Rodney Parade from Crewe and would be the first to admit that he failed to reproduce the performances of 2021/22 when he helped Dom Telford win the golden boot and also scored eight times himself. The 29-year-old made 40 appearances in all competitions last season and struck twice in open play with another pair of goals from the penalty spot. 'CBR' is currently joined in the squad by two new strikers with loanee Michael Reindorf set for a first proper taste of the EFL and Ged Garner, who has experience of the third and fourth tiers. Garner scored six times last season when with Barrow and Morecambe while his best final tally was when he scored eight in 31 games at League One Fleetwood in 2021/22. The hope will be that County can unlock his goalscoring and help him hit double figures for the first time. They also need others to chip in and the goal scorers in the two friendlies so far, admittedly against lowly Welsh opposition, sure to please Hughes. Left-backs Tom Davies and Anthony Glennon got forward into the box to score against Pontypridd and Undy. Former boss Graham Coughlan urged Cameron Norman to get forward and use his physical attributes to be more influential in the attacking third and the same goes for rangy Joe Thomas down the right. County look unlikely to have a dominant scoring figure like Dom Telford or Will Evans so need everyone to chip in. FINISHER: County forward Oliver Greaves has shown he has an eye for goal if he can stay fit (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency) Kamwa needs to be more of a consistent threat while Oliver Greaves undoubtedly has an eye for goal but was troubled by niggles last season and then was out of favour under Nelson Jardim. The signing of Wales international Matt Smith is a coup but the 25-year-old midfielder has just four goals to his name in senior football. Cameron Antwi scored just once last season, a composed finish in the shock win at Crewe, and Kai Whitmore struck three times. County don't appear to possess a Mickey Demetriou-type threat among their defensive ranks but Baker and Cameron Evans showed that they can pop up with the odd goal. At the moment there is no stand-out candidate for the club's golden boot but the Exiles need at least one man to hit double figures and a handful of players to have their most prolific EFL campaigns. If they can't then it will put the pressure on for last season's leakiest defence, with 76 conceded, to find a mean streak. FRIENDLY ACTION County have had a tough week of training at USW Sports Park in Treforest and will aim to show the results of that at Worcester on Saturday afternoon. The Exiles travel to face Tim Harris' side at Sixways as preparations ramp up for the season opener on July 29 at Barnet in the preliminary round of the Carabao Cup. Several members of the squad, such as striker Courtney Baker-Richardson, might not be risked on the artificial surface due to past injuries. County head to Weston-super-Mare on Tuesday and then Torquay next weekend as Hughes starts to make decisions about his squad.
South Wales Argus
08-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
David Hughes: Newport County must have intent and energy
The Exiles have so far had two friendly matches, a 1-1 draw at Cymru South Pontypridd and 1-0 win at Ardal South East Undy AFC, as they build towards the start of the season. Newport have tinkered with their shape throughout the fixtures as Hughes looks at his options in the count down to the Carabao Cup preliminary round tie at Barnet on July 29, a fixture that is followed by the League Two opener at home to Notts County on Saturday, August 2. Hughes, who left his role with Manchester United Under-21s to replace Nelson Jardim in the hotseat, is not committed to one set-up. 'I am not set on a formation, but there are shapes that we have got to try and get into to try and play,' said the manager, who is working the players hard with assistants Wayne Hatswell and Lee Kendall. 'We must be organised and difficult to play against, I make no bones about that, and we have to play with real intent and energy. PREPARATION: Newport County at their pre-season friendly against Undy (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency) 'The players need to represent the supporters of Newport in a particular way and that needs to be with football on the front foot, pressing, getting after it and making life difficult for the opposition. 'Then when we are on the ball we have to play because it's about entertaining and exciting people by playing winning football. 'It's about stopping your opponent, getting on top of them, running them back the other way and dealing with the ball in a really effective manner.' County step their preparations up in training this week and then travel to Tim Harris' Worcester City on Saturday before trips to Weston-super-Mare and Torquay United. The former defender is ready to be a boss in the Football League for the first time after being picked by owner Huw Jenkins. Jardim was head coach and Hughes is manager, although he insists that is just a title. 'I will be called many other things over my time here than manager or head coach! I am not too concerned by the title, it's just about the plan to move the club forward along with the rest of the staff,' he said. - County's League Two game against Swindon Town at Rodney Parade on Saturday, October 4 has been brought forward to a 12.30pm kick-off. As has been the case in recent years, the start time has been switched on police advice and the fixture will be all-ticket and they will need to be bought before matchday.
