NELSON Jardim wants his first Newport County AFC season to be “comfortable” – but insists that doesn’t mean a lack of ambition.

The head coach will be at the helm for his first game in the League Two opener at Cheltenham tomorrow and believes the Exiles’ new approach isn’t a gamble.

Owner Huw Jenkins has spearheaded a recruitment drive that has led to 13 new players being signed, most of them EFL novices.

There has also been a change at the top with manager Graham Coughlan replaced by Portuguese coach Jardim, who is tasked with developing a possession-based style at Rodney Parade.

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The unknown means that plenty of pundits are tipping County to struggle towards the basement – as they did last summer – but the boss hopes to stay away from trouble to help speed up the process of embedding passing football in Newport.

BOSS: Nelson Jardim talks to Newport County's players in pre-seasonBOSS: Nelson Jardim talks to Newport County's players in pre-season (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“We are looking for a comfortable season,” said Jardim. “That comfort gives you time to keep on working on the style, focusing on what we can control which is how we play.

“The main point for the season is to make sure there is clarity about how we are going to go about games, about our style.

“We are looking to play football and get control of the ball, we know that is hard but we believe that will provide us with a clear way to reach our goals.

“Being comfortable in the table will allow us to keep on working on the style.

“The way that we play the game is massive and if we reach a good level of performance that will give us that comfortable season.

“We will assess game by game because we know that we have a lot of new players and it can take time to settle, but we are looking forward to it and are positive.”

Jenkins, who took over in January, has previously stressed the need for County to move on from being focused on survival and to start looking up.

Jardim reiterated his belief that hunting a ‘comfortable’ season will allow the Exiles to be hunt more when up against bigger spenders in the fourth tier.

“There is a lot of ambition in it. Comfortable says that you are aiming higher every game, the highest that you can go and making sure you don't lose your way,” he said.

“The connection between comfort and ambition is making sure you are in a position to focus on your style, improving and getting stronger every day.”

Of County’s new signings, only Courtney Baker-Richardson is over 24 and Jardim will be handing out a raft of Football League debuts at Whaddon Road.

That approach – with the aim of developing sellable assets – along with the new style and a novice coach is a brave one in the notoriously tough League Two.

“It's not a gamble because we know exactly what we are doing and what we want. We are not just trying things, we are actually putting in place a plan,” said Jardim.

“That will take time, we know that, and we need everyone to be connected with the idea, especially the fans.

“We need their energy and I am sure they will be happy with the way that things are going and how the players play and show commitment, aggression and desire to play a good game to provide good afternoons.”