NEWPORT County AFC have appointed Ethan Foster as their new club secretary following the departure of chief executive officer and club secretary Alex Tunbridge earlier this month.

Foster has worked for the Exiles in the role of head of operations for nine months and oversaw the club’s FA Cup matches against Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur in January.

He will take on the club secretary duties alongside his existing role.

“I’m very pleased to be taking on the role of club secretary at Newport County AFC,” said Foster.

“This is a natural progression for me having been the lead on operations since October. “I look forward to the new challenge and working with the first team manager, Michael Flynn.”

Director Mike Everett, one of Foster’s predecessors as club secretary, added: “Ethan worked closely with Alex supporting him on football administration last season and will now take on full responsibility for these matters as club secretary.

“Ethan has built up significant knowledge and experience in the area of football administration and organisation and this will stand him in good stead as he takes on this responsibility."

County AFC last week announced the appointment of Guy Price as CEO.

Price, who is currently head of sport at UNICEF UK and was formerly chief executive at Bristol City, will be joining County in mid-July.

He said: “I am really excited to be joining the team at Newport County AFC.

“It is a proud football club with a loyal and passionate following, and I am looking forward to helping the board and the manager give supporters even more to be proud of.

“I was brought up in Monmouth, so I have always followed the club’s fortunes and results.

"It says everything about the club’s supporters that you now own and run your club. It is an extremely competitive environment, both on and off the pitch, and my aim is to help your club keep progressing and building in both areas.

“A priority for me will be to run the club as efficiently as possible, so that we can maximise income and invest in a playing squad that can compete in League Two and above.

"I am also passionate about the ties between the football club and its surrounding communities and the wider city, so I will work to make sure that the whole of Newport gets behind the club. And I am looking forward to meeting and listening to fans over the course of the new season.”

County’s operational chairman Gavin Foxall said: “We are delighted to welcome Guy to the club.

“He brings with him a wealth of experience both in football administration and wider management skills within sport.

“We look forward to working with Guy to progress the club on and off the field and I’m sure all our supporters will welcome his appointment.”

South Wales Argus:

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s under-21s are the latest academy side to sign up to the Checkatrade Trophy with the 16 invited teams for the 2018-2019 campaign confirmed today by the EFL.

The young Gunners, managed by World Cup winner Per Mertesacker (above), will join under-21 sides from Premier League rivals Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in next year’s competition, which will continue in its current format.

The format is designed to give the country’s leading young footballers the opportunity to taste first-team football, while also providing EFL clubs with an opportunity to attract new audiences and additional revenue in a competition that has long provided League One and League Two clubs with a chance of silverware.

Four EFL clubs will have under-21 sides involved this time around, with Middlesbrough, Stoke City, Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion featuring in the round one group stage draw, which will take place in July, with the first round of fixtures scheduled to take place week commencing September 3.