By Terry Phillips
Newport County are making big changes to their squad and six players could make their debut in Saturday’s League Two at Stevenage Borough.
Manager Graham Westley, a former Stevenage team boss, has already signed Millwall defender Sid Nelson plus strikers Aaron Williams and Jaanai Gordon.
Eastleigh manager Martin Allen has confirmed that Caerphilly-born former Wales international David Pipe is leaving them to rejoin County, while Westley is still hoping to add two more in time for Saturday;’s fixture.
Nelson, 21, has moved from Millwall on loan until the end of this season and Westley says: “We have conceded 19 goals in seven league games and that tells you we lack defensive stability.
“There’s no disrespect to any player in that statement. I’ve seen a lot of Nelson in under-21 and League One football. He helped his club into the play-offs last year and I’m sure Newport fans will love the heart and quality that he will put into defending our goal.”
Newport, who have lost seven successive fixtures, are four points adrift at the foot of League Two and battling against relegation, although Notts County and Cheltenham Town are also struggling badly and with only two to go down there is hope for the Exiles.
“We’ve had a horrible run of results and it’s time for us to snap out of that now, leave all that behind and move on,” says Westley. “We’ve been busy in the transfer market this week and we’ll be busy again before the weekend making sure that we give ourselves a different set of ingredients to start working with in the second half of the season.”
County have not confirmed Pipe’s return, but Allen has said: “We had a phone call for Pipey to go on loan to Newport, which is just around the corner from his house, so he’s gone until the end of the season,” said Allen.
“He’s been brilliant since I’ve been here, helping me, and he’s a great lad.”
Pipe helped Exiles win promotion to the Football League in 2013. He can play at right-back or in midfield, while his leadership qualities and intensity will be invaluable to the team.