Coutts shown the door/Bolton link (From South Wales Argus)

Coutts shown the door/Bolton link

6:50am Friday 1st January 2010 in Latest Football By Michael Pearlman

Newport County have parted company with midfielder James Coutts as they prepare for the January transfer window, writes Michael Pearlman.

The Exiles, who suffered through a relative injury crisis in late November and December, are still without the injured Takumi Ake, Nathan Davies and Dave Gilroy.

However, midfielder Scott Rogers is fit to play today and pivotal midfielder Danny Rose has also returned to fitness, leaving the Exiles stacked with options once more.

And with boss Dean Holdsworth targeting potential new players who are now available with the transfer window re-opening, Coutts has departed to free funds in the wage budget.

“I’ve had a chat with James who has done well for us, we’ve agreed it’s best for him to move on because his chances are going to be more limited with players returning from injury,” Holdsworth said.

“We’ve got a budget and this frees us to look at one or two options."

The boss has been in regular contact with former teammate and Spytty Park midfielder Lee Fowler, who has signed for Conference promotion challengers Oxford United following his release from Kettering.

Fowler has been heavily linked with the Exiles after expressing a desire to return, but Holdsworth encouraged the player to move to the Kassam Stadium.

Meanwhile, Holdsworth is not holding his breath with his name being mooted for the vacant managerial post at Premier League Bolton Wanderers.

Various fan sites and radio phone-ins have seen Holdsworth being endorsed for the job after Gary Megson’s sacking though the likes of Paul Jewell, Walter Zenga, Peter Reid and Alan Curbishley are thought to be the frontrunners.

However, as a former Bolton player (once their record signing) Holdsworth’s progress at Newport County hasn’t gone unnoticed in the corridors of power at the Reebok Arena, according to the Bolton Evening News.

"I’ve heard that my name has been mentioned by supporters which is very nice to hear, but that only shows how well we’re progressing here at Newport," Holdsworth said.

"But there is nothing really to say on the matter."

Holdsworth is tellingly not considered a genuine candidate with many bookmakers not even offering a price on him being appointed.

He is fully focused on today’s clash with Worcester and has a few selection headaches, Rogers returning from injury and Paul Bignot available after suspension as the Exiles look to extend their Conference South lead.