NEWPORT County boss Justin Edinburgh has paid tribute to departing academy director Glyn Jones, writes Michael Pearlman.

The Exiles announced last week that Jones formerly a professional footballer and also a caretaker manager for Newport in the past, would be leaving after a 17-year stint with the club.

In that time he’s guided the likes of Nathan Davies, Andrew Hughes and Lee Evans into the County first team as well as finding previous gems who started with Newport County, such as Premier League defender Darren Peacock.

And manager Edinburgh believes the decision to move on without Jones is the toughest call he’s had to make in his tenure with Newport County.

“It’s never an easy decision to let someone go, especially when they’ve been such a stalwart for the club as Glyn has,” Edinburgh explained.

“In most clubs, the youth set-up isn’t something the manager has too much involvement in, because you’re constantly in fear of the sack as a manager.

“But things are different here, I’m coming into my fourth season and it’s not just about getting it right with the first team, every aspect has to be right at the club.

“And after a lot of consideration, we’ve decided we want to have a change with the youth set-up.

“It’s nothing about what Glyn hasn’t done; I’ve got nothing but good things to say about him, we’ve just decided we want to go in a different direction.

“Danny (Elliott) who has been like a sponge with information ever since I arrived at the football club and Michael (Flynn) will get an opportunity now and I can only put on record my thanks to Glyn.

“If it wasn’t for injuries, I think Kyle Patten and Josh Jones would’ve both broken through last season and hopefully they still can.

“And then just like with other players, we’ll have Glyn to thank.”