It's a done deal – Exiles to confirm ten-year agreement to stay on Parade (From South Wales Argus)

It's a done deal – Exiles to confirm ten-year agreement to stay on Parade

5:23pm Wednesday 27th February 2013 in Sport By Andrew Penman

NEWPORT County, Newport RFC and Newport Gwent Dragons have finally concluded a deal for the Exiles to play at Rodney Parade for ten more years.

As revealed by the Argus last week, the clubs were waiting for the contract to get the green light from the Football League and it has now been signed and sealed.

The city’s three main sporting clubs have called a joint press conference for 2pm tomorrow where they will announce details of the historic agreement.

The trio put in place a three-year deal for County to play at Rodney Parade last summer but the Exiles required the new ten-year lease by today’s deadline in order to meet Football League requirements should they be promoted or reach the play-offs this season.

Justin Edinburgh’s men are currently fifth in the Blue Square Bet Premier table – five points behind leaders Wrexham but with two games in hand after Tuesday’s clash at Gateshead was postponed.

The news is sure to delight County fans, players and manager Edinburgh, who spoke last week of the vital importance of the deal for the future of the club. “I think it was the most important thing we did last summer for the football club to progress and I think that it would be the biggest signing we can make again to continue the progress we’ve made,” said the Exiles boss.

“We want to continue to grow and get to the next stage and I think it’s vital that we stay at Rodney Parade.”

Edinburgh also suggested that the ten-year lease could lead to improvements in facilities at their new home.

“If we can get the lease sorted we’ll look to do extensive work over the summer and the pitch will be in an even better state next season,” he added.