NEWPORT County AFC are ‘open-minded’ to signing more players this summer – but will only bring in loanees who are ready to be League Two starters.
The Exiles have had a busy summer recruitment drive in which 10 players, almost exclusively up-and-coming prospects, have been signed on two-year contracts.
They are yet to bring in any loanees and owner Huw Jenkins won’t just add young squad filler to Nelson Jardim’s squad.
County have profited from talented prospects having spells at Rodney Parade – Ben White, Finn Azaz, Ollie Cooper, Brandon Cooper, Scott Twine, Matt Baker among others – but the emphasis has shifted towards developing their own.
“If you can find a loan player who can make a difference to the team, a starter who you know is going to make a difference, that is a great one to have and consider,” said former Swansea chief Jenkins, who has led the recruitment with his own scouting network.
“Just signing loans to fill positions, personally I would rather get four or five players like we have from the Welsh league, Southern Leagues, those dropping out of clubs who haven’t had a chance.
“The number one thing is to be a club that provides opportunity. That’s a critical thing.
“You are trying to bring players in who want to progress their careers while a lot of loan players can get lost; are they staying at the [parent] club or going somewhere else?
“They can be muddled in how their careers are going forward while I want players who know why they are here.
“They know what we want – success and playing a certain way – while they are going to progress their careers. That is a critical change in how we think as a football club.”
The Exiles have had a summer of change in which 10 players have arrived and only one player, experienced midfielder Aaron Wildig, signed a fresh deal.
There is also a new boss at the helm after Jardim arrived as head coach following the departure of manager Graham Coughlan.
They will assess the make-up of the squad in the coming weeks and address any weaknesses.
“With the appointment of Nelson and where we are at, we have pre-season games to see how things work and pan out,” said Jenkins.
“One or two things may spring to mind and happen between now and the end of the window in August, or it might be surprising and nothing does.
“We are open-minded and have to see how things run because when changing things it was essential to get players in early and get the [new] style of play introduced in advance.”
After beating Undy and Pontypridd, County face Barry Town United of the Cymru Premier on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 2.30pm).
Things step up a few levels on Tuesday when facing Bristol City behind closed doors at the Championship club’s training base.
LAST SEASON’S LOANEES
County, who are allowed to field five loanees in a matchday squad, borrowed six players last season.
Centre-back Baker, who has now signed a permanent deal with the club after leaving Stoke, made 30 League Two starts and came off the bench twice.
Striker Seb Palmer-Houlden (Bristol City) started 25 times and had nine substitute outings while left-back Adam Lewis (Liverpool) was also in the XI on 25 occasions with one appearance off the bench.
Right-back Lewis Payne (Southampton) started 20 times and came on 11 times while left-back Matty Bondswell started nine times and came off the bench 23 times.
Olly Thomas was briefly a fringe figure in the autumn after arriving to cover for injured clubmate Palmer-Houlden, making eight League Two cameos.
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