MICHAEL PEARLMAN SAYS: Old boys are doing the Exiles proud (From Campaign Series)

MICHAEL PEARLMAN SAYS: Old boys are doing the Exiles proud

8:10am Tuesday 11th September 2012 in Sport

A KEY sign of significant progress for any club outside the Premier League and Championship is the ability to have other teams interested in your players.

It’s no secret that the likes of Crewe Alexandra have survived because of the players they’ve sold while others rely on shrewd transfer dealings whereby players not wanted elsewhere are given a opportunity to flourish.

For the first time in living memory, Newport County have both aspects pretty well covered.

As featured on today’s back page, current County academy graduate Lee Evans is being tipped for the Premier League by boss Justin Edinburgh.

The sharks circling for him is just a matter of time, ditto fellow academy player Andrew Hughes.

But it should also be of immense satisfaction to Newport that favourable trading from previous boss Dean Holdsworth has put County on the map too.

In some instances – Craig Reid, Danny Rose, Paul Bignot and Charlie Henry – they’ve benefited financially. In some – Sam Foley and Gary Warren – they have not.

However, every ex-Exile plying their trade at a higher level is a testament to good management, and how well they are doing.

Sam Foley is earning rave reviews at Yeovil, having taken them to the top of the table and started every game so far this season.

He also got a brilliant assist against Premier League West Brom in the League Cup.

And reunited with Holdsworth at Aldershot, Reid is also firing. His goal at Bristol Rovers on Saturday was nothing short of sublime.

It’s great to see and really emphasises how far County have come.