Graham Coughlan: Newport County boss pleased with quiet deadline day
- Published
Will Evans (right) signed for Newport County from Cymru Premier Bala Town in 2022, prior to the arrival of boss Graham Coughlan
Manager Graham Coughlan believes the "not for sale" signals put out by Newport County during January ensured a quiet transfer deadline day.
Despite plaudits for his goal-scoring performance in the 4-2 FA Cup defeat by Manchester United, there were no late bids for Newport top scorer Will Evans.
Earlier in January, Coughlan admitted there had been "interest" in Newport's 19-goal leading marksman.
"We made our stance clear," said the County boss.
"So it probably would have taken a hell of a lot of money, a hell of a bid, if anybody wanted any of our players."
The club's takeover by former Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins was completed just over a week before Thursday's deadline day.
And Coughlan said: "Our stance was clear two or three weeks ago, our players are not for sale.
"I think it's a different Newport County now with the ownership. The owner Huw Jenkins has backed me in making those decisions to hold on to our assets.
"What we aim to do over the next six, 12, 18 months is to create more assets and build a stronger squad and a bigger squad and hopefully climb the divisions."
Coughlan said there had been efforts to add to his resources, but with former Wales under-21 striker Luke Jephcott acquired a week before the deadline and long term injury victims Kyle Jamieson and Offrande Zanzala closing in on returns, the manager is content with his squad numbers.
"As I keep saying I am not in the business of collecting players," he said.
"The ones that are here, I have a little bit of faith and trust in and I think there is still more to come from them and I have one or two coming back from injury.
"So I am quite happy, 21 or 22 that's reasonably strong enough numbers and hopefully they prove me right and it's a reasonably strong enough squad to pick up some victories between now and the end of the season."
Newport are currently 16th in the League Two table. With 18 games to go, they are seven points adrift of the play-off places and 16 points clear of the relegation zone.
Former Penybont midfielder Nathan Wood was Newport's only deadline day departure, having moved to League of Ireland club Cork City for the rest of the domestic season.
Aberystwyth-born Jephcott was Newport's sole January signing arriving from St Johnstone. He will be vying for a debut at Rodney Parade against one of his former clubs - Swindon Town - for whom he scored seven goals during the 2022-23 campaign.
Coughlan is pleased by what he has seen in training from the 24-year-old striker.
"He is looking good, looking sharp, he can score a goal let me tell you and that is one of the reasons why we brought him in. He is raring to go against a former club of his."