Ex-Swans coach Jardim joins Newport County staff

Nelson Jardim will join some familiar faces at Newport County

Former Swansea City coach Nelson Jardim has joined Newport County’s backroom staff.

Jardim will take up the role of 'lead coach' in the new set-up at the League Two side.

Chairman Huw Jenkins, who knows Jardim well from his days in charge at the Swans, is still looking for a head coach to succeed boss Graham Coughlan, who recently left by "mutual consent", according to the club.

Jardim will work alongside current first-team coach Dafydd Williams, who also used to work at Swansea, along with goalkeeper coach Jim Holman.

Portugal-born Jardim said: "I am really looking forward to the challenge. I have known the chairman for close on 14 years at Swansea and I know exactly what he is looking for.

"I know his philosophy for coaching, playing and what he expects from everyone at the club, on and off the pitch, in terms of culture.

"The project really excites me. It's the chance to build something new at the football club. It's a fresh start for everyone."

Jardim, 45, initially joined the Swans as a coach under manager Paulo Sousa before following the former Champions League winner to Leicester City a year later.

From there, Jardim returned to Portugal to be assistant manager at LigaPro side Nacional before going back to Swansea in 2017 as a lead academy coach.

He later served as a first-team coach under Francesco Guidolin, Paul Clement and Carlos Carvahal.

Following his departure from the Swans, Jardim was part of Aitor Karanka's coaching set-up at Birmingham City and then returned home to Portugal to manage Maritimo B.

Jardim left his post to join Newport, whose squad have this week reported back for pre-season testing and training.