Newport County’s new head coach, Nelson Jardim, has declared it a “privilege” to lead the club into a fresh Exiles era.
Jardim, 45, was officially appointed to the new role after stepping up from lead coach two weeks after arriving from his native Portugal.
“I am delighted to officially take the role,’’ he confirmed. “It is a privilege to be at Newport County, and at the beginning of something I believe can be special over time.
“Obviously, it was a big decision for me to leave my family in Portugal, so the move had to be right for everyone.
“But having worked with the players for the last two weeks, seen their quality, commitment and work ethic, plus the way they have bought into my methods, it made my decision quick and easy for me.
“I have been really impressed with their drive and ambition to become better players by utilising a different style of play that will hopefully bring them and the club success in the future.
“The decision was also reinforced by the staff here. They’ve welcomed me in; bought into the different footballing philosophy and ways of working and given 100 per cent to ensure everything runs smoothly. The support they have offered has been second to none and I would like to thank them because it means a lot.
“The same goes for the supporters. I’ve spoken to a lot of them around the city and at Undy last Saturday. They’ve been so welcoming, respectful and supportive and I’m looking forward to building a close relationship with them.’’
The appointment sees Jardim team back up with Newport County chairman Huw Jenkins after the pair worked closely together at Swansea City. And it was a factor which helped the Portuguese commit his future to Rodney Parade.
“It is always good to work with people you know, trust and respect,’’ added Jardim. “Huw is a person well known and respected in British football. He has a track record of being successful and a winner.
“The fact that I’ve known him for 14 years and worked closely with him for a large part of that time gives me the trust and knowledge to know what he expects in terms of footballing philosophy, style of play, culture and work ethic.
“We may not agree on everything at times, that’s football, but we both know what we want and have the same goals for this football club.”