Michael Smith unsure on County stay

6:33pm Sunday 6th January 2013 in Newport County Photograph of the Author By Andrew Penman

NEWPORT County AFC loan star Michael Smith admits he may have played his last game for the club.

Smith’s initial loan period ended after Friday night’s 1-1 draw with promotion rivals Wrexham and he is unsure whether he will return to Rodney Parade.

The 6ft 4in striker is due back at his parent club, Charlton Athletic, on Monday for talks with manager Chris Powell.

“I don’t know what’s happening yet. I’ve got to go back to Charlton to speak to the manager,” said Smith, aged 21.

“I’m getting games here and I am enjoying it, so I’m happy, but ultimately it’s not up to me, it’s up to Charlton what happens next.

“I’d like to stay but whatever happens is up to my parent club.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time at the club because they are a great group of lads and there’s definitely the talent here to go all the way – with or without me.”

Exiles boss Justin Edinburgh is keen to keep Smith until the end of the season if possible, but fears a repeat of the Christian Jolley situation, when the player was recalled to his parent club with a view to a move elsewhere.

“We’re in dialogue with Charlton and we’re looking to extend it but it’s difficult with loan players because we don’t dictate (what happens),” he said.

“We had it with Jolley and it’s the same with Michael. If they say no there’s nothing we can do.”

Edinburgh is also targeting two other strikers and a central defender, which is more of a priority after Ismail Yakubu suffered a hamstring injury against Wrexham.

“With Ismail’s injury we will press on trying to sign a centre- half, we want to do that,” said the manager.

Director of football Tim Harris confirmed that they are in talks with Forest Green Rovers to bring Chris Todd back to the club.

Todd was a key part of County’s 2010 Blue Square Bet South championship-winning team but left in the summer of 2011.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh revealed that he has not given up hope of bringing Jolley back to south Wales.

The AFC Wimbledon winger, who scored five goals in five games for County in November and December, has been made available for transfer by the League Two strugglers.

The Dons turned down County’s initial offer for the player, who has since rejected a move to the Exiles’ Blue Square Bet Premier rivals Luton Town.

Edinburgh said: “I spoke to him and his agent just before Christmas and made them aware of where we are and what we want to do but we haven’t heard from him since.

“I know he’s turned down Luton and we’re open to it (Jolley returning). We don’t need to sell this club to him. He knows what we’re all about and the offers he’s getting is because of what he did here.”

Comments(23)

COUNTYVOICE says...
8:07pm Sun 6 Jan 13

trouble with high profile loan signings, the likelihood of a loan extension not always possible

fear this and aired that opinion a few weeks back,

smith has been a bit of key last couple of games, maybe he knew he was coming to the last of his games for county.

sad loss of talent

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Adrian Williams says...
8:48pm Sun 6 Jan 13

Would love to see Todd bacl at the club - that would be a great bit of business. Fingers crossed on Jolley also

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Clever Trevor says...
9:01am Mon 7 Jan 13

What is going on with Tiger,having read the fans forum,everyone said how well he played friday,plus the games against luton and FGR (away).Why would JE want another defender when he has Tiger at the club,beats me !

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RSATaffy says...
9:10am Mon 7 Jan 13

? Didn't the County just have Yakubu injured? That's not the first time this season either, and we have been shipping goals like a sieve for months so I can understand why another defender might be needed..

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llandaff says...
9:45am Mon 7 Jan 13

Buy a brick wall if necessary! Just stop the goals against going in. The team can score goals in every department and another striker is not really the main priority right now. Especially as goal difference could be the decider with it being so tight at the top.We need a new quality defender now!

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jetspotter says...
12:06pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Well thanks Michael Smith what a shame
It looks like you've played your last game
You were tall, fit and lean
Athletic and keen,
A credit to County's proud name.

Thanks Michael, if this is the end of your stay all good luck for the future.

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rhinestine says...
1:28pm Mon 7 Jan 13

County don't half go through some players!!...........
..how many local lads in the squad?

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the dork says...
2:06pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Please..............
.would someone explain to me the player acquition policy at this level. I have seen more squad stability in my local sunday morning pub team......and that normally depends on whose had what bevvies on sat nite. The only certain name on the team sheet by thursday seems to be the kit man.Its no wondder county fors more in / out than the boat race. Do conty ever train together ? Its a joke please someone explain

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Harvist says...
3:12pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Could it be that 30K for a Jolley is not such a bad deal
????

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netala says...
3:41pm Mon 7 Jan 13

too risky to play "tiger" for full game , only one foot, can`t turn quicky, get`s skinned on a one to one, any more reasons.we need experience at this stage of the campain. todd would be an asset not a liability.

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Slider02 says...
3:55pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Simple Dork - at the Level that county is playing at - and the level that the club aspires to be playing at next season means that the team requires the best players that they can get for the positions that need to be filled (including injuries etc). If that means changing one or two in the squad once ot twice in the season, then so be it.

I am sure that you enjoy your park football on a sunday - but remember that park football and conference premier football is literaly light years apart.

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lowandhardandinthecorner says...
3:59pm Mon 7 Jan 13

the dork wrote:
Please..............

.would someone explain to me the player acquition policy at this level. I have seen more squad stability in my local sunday morning pub team......and that normally depends on whose had what bevvies on sat nite. The only certain name on the team sheet by thursday seems to be the kit man.Its no wondder county fors more in / out than the boat race. Do conty ever train together ? Its a joke please someone explain
The County have a relatively small squad and had Smith and Jolley on loan until recently
JE has otherwise assembled a small stable squad. Your ignorance of this fact shows that you obviously know very little about the club.

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jetspotter says...
5:08pm Mon 7 Jan 13

I agree 'Slider' County are Conference standard and teams like Yate Town are more like park standard.....hang on a minute....!!!

Only joking.....!!!!!

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COUNTYVOICE says...
5:52pm Mon 7 Jan 13

ooo jetspotter stick to the thread of the conversation, you ll upset tony soprano....... :-)

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the dork says...
6:55pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Thanks for helping me with 'my ignorance' about footy at this level! one or two player changes once or twice a season ! Yes.but there is a revolving door here! one or two a week is more like it. You do not win anything with an unsettled team of mercinaries! These loan guys are all working to a self help agenda and do not usually have the future of the team at heart. Let us hope county do not now come down with the christmas decorations!

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jetspotter says...
7:03pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Now now C.V. I'm sure Tony's a smashing lad really it's just that some people do seem to get a bit overheated from time to time.
Whoops there I go again not sticking to the thread !!! Never mind..

UP THE COUNTY !!!!!!

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COUNTYVOICE says...
7:08pm Mon 7 Jan 13

i know twice he s chastised me now, feel like a naugty school boy in the headmasters office.

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llandaff says...
7:10pm Mon 7 Jan 13

It would be nice if the revolving door actually produced a quality player who really wants to stay and play. We seem to be involved in more short term loans than Wonga.com!! Come on JE get your skates on! I don't know who it is I am supporting at the moment!

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NakedDancer says...
9:16pm Mon 7 Jan 13

I think the whole loan system is ridiculous but its part of the modern game unfortunately. Whilst the system exists JE would be negligent if he didn't use it to get good players without committing to long term contracts. County have only brought in 2 loans so far (Smith, Jolley), partly due to Crow being injured. Thats probably less than all other Conference clubs and they were a success.

I don't understand the revolving door comments. County have one of the smallest squads in the league and only released 2 fringe players and loaned 2 out (Louis, Thomson) to balance the books.

As for Hughes, he will hopefully be a star in the future but at the moment along with the regular back four Pipe, Yakubu, James, Sandell they concede far too many goals.

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jetspotter says...
10:47pm Mon 7 Jan 13

When I was a lad my uncle always bought me a programme of County's home games and I've got loads from the 50's and 60's. That's where my love of the club comes from.The funny thing is that when you look at the team sheets from then it's more or less the same line up week in week out for at least the season.I think that's why the fans had such a rapport with the players and vice versa. I'm not sure things have changed for the better but that's the way it is now with the necessity for bigger squads and fewer players coming from the local area.Mind you at one time we seem to have had several scottish players in the team.It's difficult to see how loan players can feel a real connection with the team and it's why I commented recently that it's really the fans and not the players who are the heartbeat and standard bearers of the club. It's the fans who live and breathe the club week after week, year after year while the players ply their trade wherever chance takes them. That's why we fans should stick together whatever our differences. Sorry to go 'off thread' again !

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NakedDancer says...
11:47pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Well, Smith and Jolley have been 2 of County's best players - there's no doubting their commitment.

County played most of their history in the old 4th Division and mostly used not very good journeyman pros rather than locals.

The County Team v Carl Zeiss Jena included locals Vaughan, Lowndes, Kendall, Plumley and Relish. The current squad has locals Flynn, Hughes, Evans, Anthony, James and Pipe. No difference.

What is different is that players at all clubs in the Conference only have 1 or max 2 year contracts as finances dictate.

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jetspotter says...
11:19am Tue 8 Jan 13

Some good points well made N.D. Perhaps I was feeling a tad nostalgic for times past. It comes with age !

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the dork says...
5:41pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Love the move to rename the team 'NEWPORT WONGA'

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