Newport County are delighted to announce Jordan Hughes as their new Academy Manager.
The Neath-born administrator, 27, had seen almost a decade service in varied youth administrative roles at Championship Swansea City and as Premiership giants Tottenham Hotspur's Academy Operations Manager, before joining the Exiles' academy structure three months ago.
Hughes will oversea County's overall academy admin and will work alongside Ben Gast, who heads up the youth section's coaches, Ryan Morley underpinning administrative duties.
County are committed to bringing through academy graduates into the first-team squad - already seeing teenage star Moses Alexander-Walker and Harrison Pugh break through this season.
Talented attacker Corey Evans could be next off the rank, Riley Lonergan and Myles McKenzie also young jewels that excite.
Acknowledging his County mandate, Hughes said, "At the top end, strengthening pathways and aligning our performances with the club's values and long-term vision will be central to our approach.
"We will build on the strong foundations already in place at the Academy. The focus must be to continue raising the standards amongst our people and preparing our young players to step confidently into first-team football - and ultimately hear the Amber Army sing 'he's one of our own!'
"For our Foundation and Youth Development Phases we want to provide our players with a strong programme that allows them to develop as young people to become best versions of themselves, supporting them from multi-faceted angles along a tough journey.
"With a strong unit of hard-working staff already appointed at the Academy there is no reason whatsoever we cannot deliver our targets." .