LES Scadding may never have scored a goal for Newport County AFC but the club would not be where it is today without him.

The EuroMillions winner used some of his good fortune to bankroll County’s return to the Football League in 2013.

The players may have done the business on the pitch but without the chairman’s financial interventions at crucial times (most notably providing the funds to sign striker Christian Jolley for the promotion season run-in) we have no doubt that County would not have achieved their return to league status after 25 years.

Mr Scadding’s decision to resign as chairman of the club is, of course, a blow but it also comes as no real surprise.

He had already made it clear he was scaling down his investment in County, with new manager Terry Butcher given a reduced budget for next season. And he had already made it clear his majority shareholding in the club was for sale to the right buyer.

That is still the case and it will be interesting to see what happens next as the club will need new investment if it is to progress.

The fact that Mr Scadding has converted the vast bulk of loans made to the club into shares is a measure of the man.

We wish him all the best in his retirement and we are sure all County fans will have one particular word to say to him. Thanks.