Rovers block Todd move (From South Wales Argus)

Rovers block Todd move

6:30am Thursday 10th January 2013 in Newport County By Michael Pearlman

NEWPORT County’s bid to re-sign defender Chris Todd is dead in the water, the Argus can reveal.

The Exiles had been keen to add the Forest Green Rovers defender to their ranks 18-months after he left the club over a contract dispute.

Boss Justin Edinburgh believed Todd would enhance the squad and be an important presence in the dressing room and the former Torquay defender is totally out-of-favour at The New Lawn.

He shone on a loan to fellow Conference outfit Hereford United earlier this term and it is understood that Kidderminster Harriers and AFC Telford United were also keen to land the 31-year-old who is out of contract at the end of the season.

However, three separate enquiries from the Exiles have failed to pay dividends, despite Newport being Todd’s first choice as his next destination.

County originally hoped to take Todd on a free transfer before two further cash bids, neither of which budged Forest Green.

The promotion contenders were unwilling to even discuss Todd joining a rival club and as such Todd will instead announce in the next 48 hours a move to an undisclosed (not Conference National) club on a free transfer.

The Exiles will now press ahead with other transfer targets, though they haven’t so far had any joy in their efforts to extend the loan of striker Michael Smith.

The former Darlington man has returned to parent club Charlton Athletic.