Huw Jenkins: Owner spells out financial realities to concerned Newport County fans

Jenkins’ deal for a majority 52% shareholding at Newport – that had previously been owned by its supporters trust – was rubber stamped in February 2024 after a vote from fans six months earlier.

The trust disclosed at the event the club had been 48 hours from being unable to pay players – and potential closure – before Jenkins’ involvement.

Jenkins told fans he will have invested £3m by the end of this current campaign, claiming “£300,000 went in last month just to keep us ticking along”.

County currently pay around £1m a year out of a £4.5m turnover to play games at Rodney Parade on a long-term lease, and Jenkins added: “I took the challenge on so there is no excuses, I know how difficult it is. It can’t go on forever, whether it’s me in charge, or somebody else taking over.”

With Newport four points adrift of safety, Jenkins faced more than two hours of questions from fans who fear the club are sliding back to non-league. When that last occurred in 1988 the club went bust and took 25 years to return to the EFL after reforming.

He argued the “fabric of football has changed” in terms of budgets, claiming some near rivals in the League Two table are paying wages more than double and admitting some non-league clubs are willing to pay more to attract players.

But he insisted the playing budget has increased and is already in talks with clubs over deals in January where a handful of signings are targeted.

Jenkins named Christian Fuchs as new manager last month after sacking summer appointment Dave Hughes.

Results have so far failed to improve, but Jenkins – who admitted he had got some key decisions on recruitment wrong – told fans: “We are all concerned where the club is, none more so than myself.

“I’m here every day sat there watching the club lose and it hurts me. Things need to improve drastically, but I believe we can.”