Huw Jenkins: Newport County won't spend big in League Two

The Exiles are at the start of a new era after the former Swansea chairman completed a takeover of the previously Supporters Trust-owned club.

Jenkins is still getting his feet under the table but is working to stabilise County’s financial situation after they reported losses of £1.2million for the year ending June 2022.

The FA Cup run provided a welcome boost to the coffers, as have bumper crowds for League Two games against Wrexham and Swindon.

Manager Graham Coughlan won’t be operating with the same limitations as last summer but nor we he suddenly be splashing the cash.

County have one of the lowest budgets in the Football League and that will remain the case.

BOSS: County manager Graham Coughlan (Image: Press Association)

“Over my years and experience at Swansea we almost always had the lowest budget, even in the Championship,” said Jenkins.

“So, anybody arguing that budgets bring you success, I’ll disagree. The challenge will be that we will operate within our means.

“Thinking that other people have better budgets and that will give them success, I will ensure nobody talks about that anywhere in this club, using it as an excuse for not setting targets to do well and winning games.”

Jenkins, who is keen for greater off-field collaboration with the Dragons, also makes no secret of his desire to run a tight ship at County – the owner hates waste.

“To me in football, everything’s over-staffed, whether it’s the football staff, support staff,” he said.

“You have lists in football today…five people doing a so-called director of football role, looking after different positions. It’s ridiculous.

“We will be keeping a very small group for staffing, but with the aim of attracting more commercial income. Maybe going down those routes is something we may have to invest in, but generally we won’t be throwing money around having loads of staff doing nothing.”

PLAN: County owner Huw Jenkins (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

Jenkins is looking to use his knowledge and nous from almost 20 years with the Swans to turn County into contenders.

Michael Flynn guided the club to a pair of League Two play-off finals when beaten controversially by both Tranmere and Morecambe while James Rowberry had County in the hunt for automatic promotion until the wheels came off in the run-in.

Coughlan has had to problem-solve since taking the helm but has got the Exiles punching above their weight in a season where most outside the changing room were content for 2023/24 to be about retaining Football League status, an attitude the new owner won’t tolerate.

“I found when I first got involved in conversations, everybody was happy just to win the odd game and look below to see how far you are off the relegation,” he said.

“I quickly changed that with my talk. You have to look up. Your aim every year has to be win the league.

“You might fall short, but the emphasis and plan has to be on that and your standards and mentality have to be right.”