Newport County AFC are going professional with the club becoming a full-time outfit.
The Exiles will be training at Newport High School on a daily basis and are “ready to push on to the next level,” according to manager Anthony Hudson.
Since their revival in 1989 Newport County have been part-time, generally training twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
However, after winning promotion to the Conference National the Exiles have had a mixture of full-time and part-time players, but from now on will train every day as they look for a return route to the Football League.
They will begin their new schedule from the start of pre-season.
All of the players signed on for next term are tied to professional contracts – with one exception – and any new deals will be full-time only.
Club captain Gary Warren, who is a teacher, is in discussions with the club about how he will split his time.
It is understood that Warren has recently been offered a job at a prominent school in Bristol and the Exiles may be forced to make a concession in his case on their new rigorous training schedule. However, it is hoped that Warren will also conform to the new regime.
County’s new manager Hudson is convinced the club had to make the move sooner rather than later as their evolution continues.
“Everyone who is going to be here next season will be full-time and that is the way it has to be,” he explained.
“In a sense, because I am new to all these things, there is a bit of learning on the job but some things are black and white and this is one of them.
“For us to progress, we need to be full-time, to have players who are 100% committed and don’t have any other things on their agenda.
“This is a big day for the club and we are fully confident with the decision we have made.”
Hudson also revealed that he now feels more settled in the role of manager, having relocated to temporary accommodation in south Wales.
He is moving to Caerleon imminently.
As well as taking in an England C game this week that included County midfielder Danny Rose, Hudson is close to announcing his first summer signing – a striker – and is also continuing contract negotiations.
The Exiles have offered terms to out-of-contract midfielder Jamie Collins, but the Argus understands he has several offers on the table, including one from League Two outfit Aldershot, now managed by former County boss Dean Holdsworth.
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