EUROPEAN regular Gary Lloyd signed for Newport County last night and vowed: "I've come here to win trophies."

The 31-year-old turned down a contract extension at Welsh double-winners Barry Town to sign a one-year deal with a year's option at Spytty Park.

Lloyd, who successfully completed his medical yesterday afternoon, won seven Welsh Premier League titles, four Welsh Cup crowns and an FAW Premier Cup trophy as well as playing in Europe 19 times during his eight-and-a-half years at Jenner Park.

The Welsh semi-pro skipper insisted last night: "All that is done and dusted - this is a new challenge for me.

"I'm used to winning, I love it and hopefully I can do a lot of winning with Newport County.

"The first aim is to get into the second tier of the new Conference that is born next season. Then I want County in the Conference proper."

Lloyd admitted he was eager to link up again with Exiles boss Peter Nicholas again following their excellent relationship during Nicholas' stint at Barry.

He is Nicholas' second summer signing, following ex-Swansea City right-back Terry Evans stepping over the Newport Stadium welcome mat, and will play in today's pre-season friendly with AFC Wimbledon at Newport Stadium (3pm). Lloyd's addition will strengthen the County rear-guard even further.

And Nicholas beamed: "He's a player who I admire and have been after for a long time. Gary is a very experienced left-back and in Welsh domestic football I would say he's played more Champions League games than anyone else."

Nicholas added: "I've proved I will not panic into any major signings.

"Supporters were expecting a mad rush of players coming in this summer, which I knew was never going to happen. But this is mine and my assistant Glyn Jones' team and will bring players when we feel we need to bring players in."

Lloyd has appeared in the Champions League for Barry five times in the last six years against the likes of Portuguese giants FC Porto and Ukrainian side Dynamo Kiev.

"I've played in a lot of big games and done well, hopefully there'll be a few more this year," he said.

"Obviously I'm not going to clash Andrej Shevchenko or Sergei Rebrov again but I can say I've done it."

Llanelli-born Lloyd would not be drawn on the turmoil at the Dragons, whose chairman John Fashanu stepped down yesterday, and said: "Now I'm concentrating on Newport. I don't know what to expect from the Dr Martens League yet but I'm ready and looking forward to the challenge.

"My aspiration this year is to enjoy football. At Barry the players are under a lot of pressure, you had to win all of the time." * Peter Nicholas has ruled out bringing striker Andy Mainwaring back to Newport County. The 29-year-old, released by Merthyr Tydfil, made only eight starts for the Exiles in 1999. Mainwaring had hoped to attract either County or Cwmbran Town. * Former Cwmbran Town midfielder Nathan Wigg has signed for fellow Welsh Premier league outfit Port Talbot Town.

PICTURED: Barry Town's European veteran Gary Lloyd joined Newport County last night