GOALKEEPER Joe Day has left Newport County AFC and signed for National League Woking on a season-long loan.

The Exiles stalwart, who has made 305 appearances over two spells at Rodney Parade, has a year left on his deal but has joined former teammates Padraig Amond and Robbie Willmott in Surrey.

Day, who played the full 90 minutes in the friendly at Bristol City last Saturday, was set to resume his duel with Nick Townsend for the start at County after his rival signed a new two-year deal this summer.

However, County have moved on the 32-year-old and he will now feature for the Cards, who suffered play-off anguish after finishing fourth in the National League last season.

Day will battle Will Jaaskelainen, son of former Bolton and Finland stopper Jussi, for the start at Woking.

Graham Coughlan will have Townsend as his first-choice ‘keeper for the upcoming campaign but must now add to his ranks after youngster Evan Ovendale was released this summer after being the third option last season.

County fielded former Northampton, Exeter and Accrington goalkeeper Jonny Maxted on trial in the 2-1 friendly win at Pontypridd at the start of July.

Day was arguably the best goalkeeper in League Two in his first spell at County after arriving from Peterborough, initially on loan, in 2014.

His exploits earned a move up to the Championship with Cardiff City but he was a fringe figure with the Bluebirds and went out on loan to Bristol Rovers and AFC Wimbledon.

Day returned to Newport on a three-year contract in 2021 and has made 62 appearances over the past two campaigns.

Woking manager Darren Sarll said: "This was an opportunity we couldn’t turn down, and an opportunity to have the best strength in the goalkeeping department the club has maybe ever had.

"It fell within the resources that we had left, and that made it a no-brainer to agree to bring Joe in.

"He is very easy to deal with and was easy to convince, and showed an energy that he wanted to come and help the football club achieve something great potentially.

"When you combine that with his career, the qualities he has, the type of goalkeeper he is, and the way Will and Joe will complement each other, it just goes to show the progress the club has made in its ability to recruit these serial-EFL players that have shown throughout their careers their competency and an elite level of performance."

His departure leaves Scot Bennett as the only stalwart on the books with Townsend the only other player with a century of appearances for the club.