FORMER Newport County AFC manager Dean Holdsworth has backed Alex Rodman to become a firm fans’ favourite at Rodney Parade.

Current Exiles boss Terry Butcher snapped up the 28-year-old former Gateshead winger earlier this month and Holdsworth is a big fan.

He wanted to sign Rodman for County in the 2010/11 season and took him to Aldershot Town after leaving the Spytty Park hot seat in January 2011.

“He scored a hat-trick against us in my last match at Newport – that’s what prompted me to buy him,” joked Holdsworth.

“His name came up at Newport before that. We knew he was a good player at Tamworth but he had a clause in his contract and we didn’t have the funds that I had at Aldershot.

“On his day Alex has got incredible ability,” he added.

“He’s probably still yet to fulfil his real potential and I hope Terry can get the best out of him.

“He’s a good lad who works hard in training. He can play on the left and cut inside and he’s definitely got goals in him.”

The 6ft 2ins winger scored seven goals in 43 appearances for the Shots but was struck down by a pulmonary embolism in January 2012, after tests showed he had three blood clots in his lungs.

He moved on to York City on loan before spells in the Conference at Grimsby Town and at Gateshead last season.

“We gave him a lot of time off to recuperate,” said Holdsworth.

“I really hope he finds his best form and does well at Newport.”

Butcher is in no doubt that he has an exciting talent on his hands after finally landing a player he wanted to take to Hibernian last summer before being shown the door by the Edinburgh club.

“He’s a player I like and who I tried to get before,” said the Exiles boss.

“He impressed me in the first 10 minutes I went to see him at Grimsby and I think he’ll suit the style of football I want to play.

“He’s exciting, he can go past people and get balls into the box and I’m sure he’ll link up well with Lennel John-Lewis up front.

“He works very hard for the team and he’s got the desire and hunger you need to do well.

“He wants to play in the Football League again and I’m very confident he can make that step up from the Conference.”

After John-Lewis, Scott Barrow and Rhys Taylor, Rodman is the fourth player to move from a Conference club to Rodney Parade this summer.

“There is not much difference between the Conference and League Two and we’ve done the research and bought in good quality, well respected players,” said Butcher.

“And Alex is a player I’ve been after for some time so I’m happy to get him.”

Meanwhile, former County defender Ismail Yakubu ha signed for Conference club Woking.