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Newport County have offered new deals to seven out-of-contract players including captain Mickey Demetriou and fellow defenders Cameron Norman, Priestley Farquharson and Aaron Lewis.

Centre-back James Clarke, midfielder Scot Bennett and goalkeeper Nick Townsend have also been offered deals.

But as expected, Matty Dolan and Robbie Willmott will depart permanently having been away on loan this season.

Striker Lewis Collins has also been released by the League Two club.

Manager Graham Coughlan, who was appointed last October, is reshaping his squad following Newport's 15th-placed finish in 2022-23.

Winger Willmott, 32, made almost 300 appearances across two spells at Newport, but moved on loan to Walsall in January.

Midfielder Dolan played 223 Newport games after joining the Welsh side in 2017, but returned to former club Hartlepool on loan in the mid-season transfer window.

Newport loan signings Matthew Baker, Charlie McNeill, Calum Kavanagh, Adam Lewis and Nathan-Moriah Welsh will all return to their parent clubs, while youngsters Jack Karadogan, Evan Ovendale, Lewys Twamley and Joe Woodiwiss will also depart on free transfers.

"We wish all players departing the club the very best with their careers moving forward and thank them for being a part of our club," an Exiles statement said.

Priestley Farquharson possibly the finest name ever in football

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Newport County defender James Clarke has agreed a new two-year deal with the League Two club.

Clarke, 33, was due to become a free agent this summer but will now remain at Rodney Parade until 2025.

He has made 64 appearances, scoring once, since joining the Exiles from Walsall in 2021.

"James is an experienced pro, he's a leader, he knows the club and for that reason it was an easy decision to make," said boss Graham Coughlan.

"We went to him early, he came back to us early."

Clarke has made more than 500 appearances in a senior career which has included spells at Oxford United and Bristol Rovers as well as non-league clubs Oxford City, Salisbury and Woking.

He played 26 times in 2022-23 as Newport finished 15th in the fourth tier.

"It's a great group of players, it's a really good environment, hence I am really excited to have been offered a new deal," Clarke said.

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Newport County goalkeeper Nick Townsend has signed a two-year contract extension with the League Two club.

The Antigua and Barbuda international joined the Exiles in August 2018 after being released by Barnsley.

Newport manager Graham Coughlan said: "Nick was desperately seeking to be the club's number one throughout last season, we gave him that opportunity and he's been fantastic.

"We gave him an early (contract) offer and in turn got an early reply."

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Defender Cameron Norman has left Newport County after two seasons with the League Two side.

The 27-year-old right-back had been offered a new contract but departs as a free agent having played 100 games for the Exiles.

"My time at Newport County has come to an end," former Walsall player Norman confirmed on social media.

"Playing for this special club for the last two years has been a privilege and the most enjoyable time in my career."

Newport offered new deals to seven out of contract players including Norman, with captain Mickey Demetriou, Priestley Farquharson, Aaron Lewis, and Scot Bennett still considering their options.

Goalkeeper Nick Townsend and centre-back James Clarke have signed new two-year deals.

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Midfielder Scot Bennett has agreed a one-year contract extension to remain with Newport County.

The 32-year-old joined the League Two side in July 2016 after leaving York.

Bennett has played almost 300 games for the Exiles, including 44 last season.

"I've been here for so long and I don't feel like my journey here is finished. I've still got a lot to give and I'm hoping we can kick on this year and have a really good season," Bennett said.

Bennett follows goalkeeper Nick Townsend and centre-back James Clarke in agreeing new deals of the seven players who were out of contract, while captain Mickey Demetriou, Priestley Farquharson and Aaron Lewis are still considering their options.

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Midfielders Scot Bennett and James Waite will remain with Newport County for at least another season.

Bennett, 32, has agreed a one-year contract extension while the Exiles have activated an option to extend the contract of Waite, 24.

Waite played 40 games for Newport last season and Bennett 44, taking his Exiles tally to almost 300 games.

"I've been here for so long and I don't feel like my journey here is finished," Bennett said.

"I've still got a lot to give and I'm hoping we can kick on this year and have a really good season.

Bennett and Waite follow goalkeeper Nick Townsend and centre-back James Clarke with new deals, while captain Mickey Demetriou, Priestley Farquharson and Aaron Lewis are still considering their options.

But defender Cameron Norman has left Newport County after two seasons with the south Wales club.

"I'm absolutely delighted to sign a new deal at the club, I've loved every minute of my time here so far," Waite said.

"I am a local lad and my family enjoy coming to watch and I love to play in front of them."

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Newport County have signed attacking midfielder Nathan Wood from Cymru Premier side Penybont.

Wood scored 15 goals and registered seven assists in 2022-23 for Penybont, where he has spent the last eight seasons.

The 26-year-old, who has agreed a two-year deal at Rodney Parade, hails from the Newport area and was formerly a youngster in the Exiles' academy.

"I've been a fan of Newport for years," Wood said.

"I know how much it means to the fans and just how passionate they are. For me to be a part of that and have the opportunity to come here is a no-brainer."

Wood becomes Graham Coughlan's first summer signing as the former Bristol Rovers boss looks to build a squad capable of improving on last season's 15th-placed finish in League Two.

"Nathan is very attack-minded and I believe he gives us something that we don't currently have," Coughlan said.

"It's a great opportunity for him, coming from the Welsh premier league. We've had a lot of success in players from the league previously at the football club.

"He was a standout performer in that division last season and it's an opportunity he fully deserves."

Wood will join former Penybont team-mate James Waite at Newport.

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Defender Priestley Farquharson has left Newport County despite being offered a new contract by the League Two club.

Farquharson, 26, joined Newport from Cymru Premier side Connah's Quay Nomads for an undisclosed fee in January 2021.

Newport announced last month that Farquharson was one of seven out-of-contract players in their squad who had been offered new deals at Rodney Parade.

But the Exiles say the centre-back has now left the club.

Farquharson scored five goals in 65 appearances for Newport, featuring 38 times in the 2022-23 campaign.

He said on social media that he feels this is the right time to "seek a new challenge".

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Newport County have signed defensive midfielder Bryn Morris after he was released by League Two rivals Grimsby Town.

Morris has agreed a two-year contract at Rodney Parade and becomes the Exiles' third summer recruit.

The 27-year-old, a product of Middlesbrough's academy, has made 200 senior appearances, including 42 in his one season at Grimsby.

"Bryn is a great addition," said Newport manager Graham Coughlan.

"He has a lot of experience and will give us additional ball control in the middle of the park.

"He has a great engine which will fit into how we play. He is also a great character who displays strong leadership qualities, so I'm really looking forward to working with him."

Farquharson leaves Newport despite contract offer
Hartlepool-born Morris made a handful of first-team appearances at Boro, while he also had spells on loan at Burton Albion, Coventry City, York City and Walsall.

He joined Shrewsbury Town in 2017 and, after a loan at Wycombe Wanderers, moved to Portsmouth on a permanent deal in 2019.

Morris went on loan to Northampton Town before rejoining Burton, and had a loan stint at Hartlepool before his move to Grimsby in 2022.

Newport have also signed attacking midfielder Nathan Wood and defender Kyle Jameson this summer.

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Newport County have signed Newcastle United defender Matty Bondswell on a season-long loan for 2023-24.

The 21-year-old Nottingham Forest academy product has played for England from under-15 to under-18.

He left Forest for Germany's RB Leipzig in 2018 before Newcastle signed him for their U23s after a loan spell at Dutch side FC Dordrecht.

Newport boss Graham Coughlan said Bondswell "has a natural quality" and "great Newcastle pedigree".

"(He) will bring great balance with his left foot," added the League Two club's boss Coughlan.

"He's very offensive in his style and has a good deal of pace which we were recruiting for this summer.

"His character and his desire to push on fits the DNA of our football club perfectly."

Bondswell said: "After meeting the gaffer it was quite an easy decision to make. I've heard good things about him, the club and the lads as well.

"I am absolutely delighted to be here and to get it (the deal) over the line. I'm ready to get going."