Fresh concerns for Newport County as Huw Jenkins informs fans of harsh financial realities

There are fresh concerns for League Two strugglers Newport County as Huw Jenkins informs fans of harsh financial realities.

The Exiles owner Huw Jenkins addressed concerned fans at a forum on December 17th at Rodney Parade, admitting the club’s challenges are much greater than he anticipated since he took over in 2023, with a majority stake confirmed in 2024.

Newport currently sit bottom of the League Two table, four points from safety, and no home league win since March and ongoing poor results under new manager Christian Fuchs.

Jenkins said at the fans forum that talks for fresh investment have stalled due to issues like share dilution and a risk of dropping out of the Football League.

He has personally injected around £3million (including £300k recently) to sustain the club, which faces high costs (£1m annually for Rodney Parade out of £4.5m turnover).

Fuchs has pleaded for help come the January transfer window, with a handful signings expected, though they’re likely to be in the form of loans or inexpensive, with and defended a youth-focused recruitment strategy, despite criticism from fans that the squad lacks League Two experience.

You can watch what was said at the full fans forum by clicking HERE.

Ed was on the wireless earlier, chatting with Dot Davies to give his verdict on last night’s fan forum.

Agree? Disagree?#ncafc 🧡🖤 pic.twitter.com/Mxausi7lsD

— 1912 Exiles: Newport County podcast (@1912Exiles) December 18, 2025

Manager Christian Fuchs is to hold additional transfer talks with Newport County chairman Huw Jenkins this week after stating his side “need some support” ⚽️#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/aWvOWECK7S

— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) December 18, 2025

Transcribed with the help of TurboScribe!

BBC Radio Wales’ Dot Davies: “There was a fan forum last night at Rodney Parade giving supporters a chance to air their views, their concerns over the club’s future and their relations with the chairman, with Huw Jenkins.

“Newport County are currently bottom of the league to four points adrift from safety, yet to win under the new manager. Let’s speak to Ed Bridges who’s on the line.

“Ed, morning. You were at the meeting last night, were you?”

Ed Bridges from 1912 Exiles: Newport County podcast: “Hello. I was indeed Dot, yes. There wasn’t a great deal of festive cheer, I think it’s fair to say. A friend said to me on the way out it was a meeting that could have been an email and I think they were probably right. There wasn’t much in the way of good news.”

Dot Davies: “So what was discussed then? Top of the agenda was what?”

Ed Bridges: “Well, I think most of us turned up hoping that there would be some news of investment in January which might allow us to bring in a few experienced players to mount enough of a fight to avoid relegation.

“But although there may be some interested parties sniffing around, nothing concrete has come through and certainly not in time to make a difference to our January transfer window budget.

“And chairman Huw Jenkins, he did accept that the team hasn’t done well enough so far on the field, but he clearly feels that three or four players probably from the same talent pool we’ve dipped into so far during his tenure is going to be enough. And I don’t think any Newport County fan shares that optimism.

“On our current trajectory we’re going to be at least five points adrift by the time reinforcements come in and we haven’t won a home game in the league since March. So things are stacking up against us.”

Dot Davies: “Did you make that point to him as fans? What were your questions to him and how did he respond in terms of what money he’s provided to the managers?”

Ed Bridges: “Well, he’s certainly put in money, there’s no doubt of that. He’s subsidised the club to the tune of three million in his words anyway, at least over the last couple of years. And there’s no one else seemingly willing to stump up that kind of money. So he is sustaining the club, but only just about.

“And I think the questions that came up and the frustration that many of us have is that Mr Jenkins is persisting with a player recruitment strategy, which has left us bereft of experienced fourth division grafters.

“And if we end up getting relegated, lose that precious and hard-won league status, we’re going to leave him with an investment that is basically worthless and leave the fans and the club with a team that is languishing in the Conference.

“And I think that’s where the frustration comes in, that without something to shift the dial in January, Christian Fuchs, the manager, is going to be trying to turn a fairly average group of players into a side that needs to produce playoff form to survive. And I think that’s a tough ask.”

Dot Davies: “To what extent do the fans blame the manager?”

Ed Bridges: “Oh, I don’t think you can blame Christian Fuchs. He’s only been in for three or four games. Even Dave Hughes, who started the season, they are having to make the best meal they can with a fairly poor set of ingredients that they’ve been given by the chairman.

“So they are doing the best under difficult circumstances. The players are doing the best with the abilities they’ve got.

“I think the problem fundamentally comes back to that player recruitment strategy that the chairman has set out.

“And that was where the frustration was last night. We were all sort of sent away, being told to believe in the team.

“But believing in things is all very well in a Disney film. This isn’t a Disney film. This is fourth division relegation scrap, and we need something to swiftly.”

Dot Davies: “And will there be a happy ending if it’s a Disney film? And that’s the fear. I’ve got Newport County fans in my family. It’s pretty bleak at the moment, isn’t it? And there’s a real fear where you’re headed.”

Ed Bridges: “Yeah, exactly that. I think it’s very hard to see that turn in fortunes coming in time.

“But if I was reaching for a positive, it would be that there are still several hundred Newport County fans who are willing to turn out on a filthy, wet December night, a week before Christmas, to discuss how their club’s future can be secured. There are plenty of people who care. There’s no end of passion about how we might build a better future.

“But we need to harness that enthusiasm, give Christian Fuchs the support and the financial backing that he needs to turn our fortunes around in the second half of the season. So Newport still has a football league club next year.

Dot Davies: “Yeah. Will that financial support be forthcoming? We shall see. Ed, thanks for coming on this morning to reflect on that meeting last night, the fan forum last night held at Rodney Parade.”

Social media users reacted to fresh concerns for Newport County as Huw Jenkins informs fans of harsh financial realities…

@NCAFCThoughts: Fan forum tonight is so concerning. Essentially just Huw Jenkins reiterating nothing is going to change, he still won’t pay a going wage for a manager or players. They had 4 managers in mind when Fuchs was appointed. 3 were experienced, but were too costly. He’s a conman. Based off Huw Jenkins revealing the financial of the club at the moment, it’s impossible to see how the club is sustainable at this level, or sustainable at Rodney Parade (at a cost of £1m a season). The way it’s going our future will be a National League/ South yo-yo club.

@Georgethomas_66: I can’t believe what we are hearing , it’s just so concerning/worrying going forward

@NCAFCThoughts: Absolutely abysmal – no accountability, basically one or two players on loan or from the Cymru Prem in Jan and hope for the best.

@Georgethomas_66: I’m not one to be constantly negative or lose hope but I have lost the small amount of belief i had prior to tonight , i can’t see an ounce of quality coming through the door in jan and then thats us done for i think

Rob Sant: I’m away but managed to watch most of it on YouTube. From what I can see we are in serious trouble and there is no point dressing it up. The one thing in our favour is the manager. He is well known, respected and if anyone can give us a fighting chance it is him, but only if we recruit properly in January. Fuchs must have contacts so this has to be the moment they are used. There looks to be no immediate investment coming and that is worrying. For now all we can do is hold our nerve, stick together and back the club because the next few weeks could define our future. And in fairness to Huw, whatever your view, you cannot question his passion after that speech at the end. Time to unite and get behind the club.

Richard Stratton: We are doomed with this clown at the helm…like a fellow fan said, guardiola couldn’t make our team better, spent 100grand on manager replacement, why not spend that 100grand on players and give the manager a chance?? oh sorry, cant spend 3k a week on a player, even it was Jamie Vardy… we are fooked.. oh and to top it off.. no investment… unbelievable.

Dan Willams: He don’t seem to comprehend that the better we do the wealthier the club will become.. we lost 300k last month because nobody wants to go watch a bunch of substandard players lose each week 🙄🙄

Tony Jermyn: I know I’m a glass half empty bloke but I don’t believe I have heard anything positive from the Chair. No investment, can’t afford an experienced manager and a HOPE to bring in new players in January. Huw has spoken a lot but has skirted around the real issues. What I was expecting from him were his short term plans ( retain EFL status), his medium term plans (to be as competitive as we can in L2) and his long term plans to bring stability and success to the club again. Very disappointed.

Mark Durham: My controversial thoughts from tonight I actually felt a bit sorry for Huw, if he did actually save the club are we too ungrateful? That said he is still delusional if if thinks this squad is going to keep us up. The trust specifically Arnie appear too close to Huw – although I do not condone any abuse aimed at him – he clearly works hard for this club. Ultimately I still think we are doomed!

Neil Vaughan: Two things after tonight’s meeting: Investment. All the so called rumours and gossip leading up to tonight. Do any of you hearing these things ask whoever told you how they know or who told them! When I asked someone once who told them, the answer I got was they heard it on the grapevine. Ffs. Do you just take it as the truth. Maybe we need a fact check or verify button on here. Would be well overused tho. If one of the reasons it is difficult to attract new investment is because of the share split. The trust (who own 27%) contribute to the club every year. As far as we know and hear, the private investors (21%) do NOT. Maybe the focus should be on these private investors to sell their shares to attract new investor to buy their shares? January 2026. Last season Carlisle signed 10 players with Hughes appointed on 6/2/25. Morecambe only signed 2 as they were under a transfer embargo until 29/1/25. Adams was appointed in summer 24 for his third spell with the club. Both experienced managers. Both relegated. My point being – we know we are limited in what can be done in January. We’re not going to be signing 6/8/10 players. Being realistic I’d be happy signing 2 strikers and a winger AND getting the injured players fit and available. Then it’s about Fuchs finding a way or system to get the team playing in a certain way to win games. Playing as a team and fighting for each other on the pitch. Simple formation. Simple messages. Simple instruction. Do the simple things well and consistently. Just do the things they can or are good at. Wimbledon competed in the 80s/90s, Leicester more recently winning the league, sunderland this season. They found and find a way to win. It can be done. But it needs to be done together. With fans getting behind the team. If as fans you can’t or don’t want to, then go and watch Newport & district football (which a lot of you compare it to) cos im not sure this club needs you in the position we are in. We need to get behind them. Not just in matches but on here. Opinions maybe but most are unrealistic on what you think can be done by manager or owner. Others downright toxic. UTC🧡🖤