With no EFL or Premier League football going ahead this weekend, Daniel Parker considers recent activity at Swansea City – the Welsh club who seem to have the best chance of a successful season. It will require something special from their head coach, however, and the chances of him receiving much help from the club’s owners are remote. It’s been a mediocre start to the season for Wales’ big three. Newport County have shown glimpses of promise – particularly in the League Cup – but have struggled to build up any kind of consistency in League Two.

By David Williams James Rowberry praised his players’ gutsy response to a difficult build-up after they won 2-1 at Exeter City in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night. The Newport manager was impressed with the professionalism of his squad, some of whom had personal belongings stolen on Monday evening after a break-in at the club’s […]

James Rowberry has admitted Newport County’s revival of their proud Cup heroics has left him speechless. The County manager was impressed after seeing his team twice come from behind against Portsmouth at Rodney Parade on Tuesday night before claiming their place in the third round of the Carabao Cup with a 3-2 win. Former Penybont and Cardiff Met striker James Waite’s winner proved the key moment, one of two Newport goals scored by former Cymru Premier players, with Will Evans also finding the net.

Newport County assistant manager Carl Serrant believes his team’s notable EFL Cup win at Luton Town underlines the growing depth in the Exiles’ squad. James Waite scored the late winner as League Two County upset Championship side Luton in the Carabao Cup first round, winning 3-2 at Kenilworth Road. Luton went ahead on 30 minutes courtesy of a stunning 35-yard drive into the top corner by Carlos Mendes Gomes, but were pegged back six minutes later as Lewis Collins equalised.

By Daniel Parker The 2021-22 season was far from a vintage year for any of Wales’ three Football League Clubs. Swansea City fans had an historic derby double over rivals Cardiff to celebrate but little else; with Russell Martin’s side playing attractive football but ultimately unable to eke out any kind of consistency en route […]

Newport County have launched a third raid into the JD Cymru Premier League by signing Will Evans from Bala Town. The trend was begun by Michael Flynn when he brought defender Priestley Farquharson to the club from Connah’s Quay Nomads in January, 2021, and his successor, James Rowberry, introduced the Penybont midfielder James Waite last season. Now, the 24-year-old former Cardiff Met star Evans is hoping he can make the breakthrough into the Football League after putting pen to paper on a deal that will be completed when the transfer window officially opens on 10 June.

Newport County’s FA Cup legend Padraig Amond could be on his way back to Ireland after confirming his time at Rodney Parade has come to an end. The striker – whose goals inspired County to memorable FA Cup giant-killing triumphs over Leicester City and Middlesbrough, plus glorious near misses against Tottenham and Manchester City – is a free agent after spending this season on loan at Exeter City. Despite playing 30 matches for the Grecians and helping them to promotion from League Two, it appears 34-year-old Amond is not going to be offered a new deal by either Newport or Exeter and may well return to the League of Ireland.

James Rowberry has admitted his Newport County side must go to Sutton United on Easter Monday and get something to revive their flagging promotion bid. Having lost for a third time in a row at Rodney Parade, the County boss is hoping the club’s recent away record can continue to help them get back into the play-off places. Sutton are one place and one point above County and have a game in hand.

There’s a Welshman at the top of the League Two table who looks well placed to win a title and promotion. Rob Edwards pulled up few trees as an international player, though his managerial career is echoing the quiet success he achieved as a club player, as Daniel Parker reports. Of the 21 players handed their first cap by Mark Hughes in his tenure as Wales boss from 1999 to 2004, fewer than 10 would go on to win 30 or more caps. While a handful of Hughes’ debutants progressed to become stars in a red jersey – Danny Gabbidon, Simon Davies, Robert Earnshaw and James Collins – the majority were international émigrés by the end of the decade.

Newport County host Exeter City on Saturday in a key fixture at the top end of League Two. It’s a match that may go a long way to determining County’s fate as they chase promotion. But whether they go up, or miss out, Daniel Parker reckons the club is in good hands under shrewd young manager James Rowberry. In the 110-year history of Newport County there have been a plethora of unhappy days. May 31, 2021 was a million miles from the worst, but it still hurt for those with amber blood in their veins.

James Rowberry has praised his Newport County side for their dedication after they strengthened their bid for promotion from League Two. County climbed up into the automatic promotion places and could even go as high as second this week if they carry their current form into Tuesday and Friday night’s games against Carlisle and Hartlepool. A 2-0 victory away at Stevenage has left Newport fans beginning to dream about achieving their goal of climbing back into the third tier of English football for the first time in 35 years.

By Rob Carbon James Rowberry is going to resist the temptation to call his predecessor Michael Flynn and ask him how he managed to beat League Two leaders Forest Green Rovers. But the current Newport County boss has certainly been reviewing that game two weeks ago when Flynn’s new club Walsall overcame the favourites for […]