Fans target Jenkins amid Newport County struggles

Huw Jenkins completed his takeover of Newport County in January 2024

"We want Jenkins out," they chanted.

Newport County fans made no secret of the target of their frustration after their latest League Two defeat and that was chairman Huw Jenkins.

This time it was a 1-0 loss at Rodney Parade, albeit to a high-flying Swindon Town side, that lit the flame under angry County fans and looking at recent results, the frustration is understandable.

Under Jenkins' leadership and manager David Hughes, the Exiles have lost 10 of their last 11 games in all competitions and sit bottom of League Two.

Hughes, 47, is a former Manchester United academy boss appointed by Jenkins in May 2025 and if he's feeling the pressure, he's certainly not showing it publicly.

A slick and likeable communicator, Hughes has been unwavering in his support of his squad and insists the desire to succeed is matched by his chairman.

"He's totally committed," said Hughes after the Swindon defeat.

"Our principles are clear. I think anyone who came to watch us, it's clear the way we play and what we want to try and do. The chairman and I speak all the time.

"We've got to focus on the players. Our focus is making sure that the team performs in a way that is taking them to a point where they are winning games.

"I cannot fault them for that, I cannot criticise them for that."

When asked about the anti-Jenkins chants, Hughes diplomatically said:

"I thought they stayed with us right until the end - they can see the levels that they [the players] are trying to deliver."

But why do some fans appear more upset with matters off the field more than on it?

"The issue the fans have is that the the club is going backwards," said Jamie Harris of the 1912 Exiles podcast.

"We're missing a bit of general quality and it wasn't addressed in the summer and it was clearly evident from the opening games of the season and it wasn't addressed before the end of the transfer window.

"We've got this squad to try and cling on until January and the fans are not convinced that Huw Jenkins will address those concerns in January.

"People have been frustrated with Huw Jenkins' way of running the club since he took over a year and a half ago. The Swindon game was the most vocal that its been in the crowd."

BBC Wales has asked Jenkins for an interview.

The club's current league position is a stark contrast to the optimism of when Jenkins completed the takeover of County back in January 2024.

Days before a lucrative FA Cup tie against Manchester United, his arrival was heralded by many as another positive step for the club.

After all, he had achieved stunning success at the helm of Swansea City, overseeing a rise from League Two to the Premier League and eventual European football.

Jenkins' main goal at County was to balance the books and make a sustainable business model.

"The main priority from day one is to very quickly get the club back on a better financial footing," Jenkins said at the time.

It was sensible talk. Fans had been warned the previous summer the club did not have the funds to cover the season's budget after losses of £1.2m.

Given the position Jenkins took on the club, a prudent approach was backed by supporters, but it's the decisions on the field that have left many asking questions.

"Huw was brought in because the [Supporters] Trust just didn't have the finances to operate," added Harris.

"There was a hole in the finances that we desperately needed to get out of and his business plan has been very much 'lets make this club sustainable'.

"He spoke with a lot of pragmatism. We at Newport County are a pragmatic bunch so we were not hoping for miracles and he said 'I don't have millions to invest in this club'.

"He came on our podcast and said it took four years to get Swansea out of League Two. The issue is that we're looking for a little bit of progression and to see something is moving in the right direction. At the moment, we are only see things moving in one direction - the National League."

It was a "different direction" that Jenkins wanted in 2024 when parting company with manager Graham Coughlan, a man who had steered the club to league safety over the course of his 20 months in charge.

His replacement was Nelson Jardim, a former Swansea colleague of Jenkins - who after a promising start - lost 10 of his final 12 games meaning County finished a place above the relegation zone in League Two. Jardim was replaced by Hughes in the close season.

Player recruitment the same summer was a mix of the young, the untested and the experienced.

Wales midfielder Matt Smith and goalkeeper Nik Tzanev bring EFL pedigree, while youngsters like Leicester loanees Nathan Opoku and Sammy Braybrooke bring potential. For others like Lee Jenkins, signed from Cymru Premier side Haverfordwest, League Two is an entirely new experience.

For ex-players like Jason Perry, that has been a major problem:

"I feel for David Hughes, I look at the coaching staff and there's a lot of experience there like Wayne Hatswell who likes to work with experienced pros," said Perry on BBC Radio Wales' Feast of Football phone-in.

"Last year they had more experience and we said they didn't have enough. They've got less this year, it's obvious what they need.

"I want to know who is bringing the players in, because it's obvious what they are missing.

"You don't just need one, you need three, four or five [experienced players] because they will create an atmosphere because they won't allow levels to drop and then others will see it and will join in."

Fellow ex-County player and BBC Wales pundit Nathan Blake echoes Perry's view.

"The lack of experience more than anything is glaring," said Blake.

"They are just hoping that two other teams are worse than them and you can't rely on that.

"Fans pay their hard earned money, they have got a right to be entertained. I think these fans are realistic, they are not expecting to be flying in the top six. They were expecting a slow process and rebuild of the club.

"The club has come out and said that the squad is better now than a year or two ago, but most fans agree that isn't the case.

"Our eyes don't lie, performances have been poor."

County have been here before. The 'great escape' of 2017, when the club avoided relegation on the final day of the League Two season is remembered fondly.

But for fans like Jamie Harris it's difficult to remain optimistic.

"I don't see any kind of style and I don't see any substance in terms of results," he said.

"Style at this stage is out the window, we don't care about that. We just want a win."