FORMER Wales star Nathan Blake has been appointed to the board of Newport County AFC, his home-town club.

The 43-year-old was born in Cardiff but raised in Newport having moved there at the age of three.

He began his playing career as a youngster with Newport before moving on to become a trainee at Chelsea.

He returned to Cardiff City and moved on to the Premier League before finishing his career at County in 2006.

Blake is understood to have been in talks with Exiles chairman Les Scadding in recent weeks and the club has now confirmed his appointment as a non-executive director.

Since the return of ex-chairman Chris Blight, County have appointed three non-executive members to their board. Blake will be the fourth such appointment within a month.

The former Wolves, Blackburn and Bolton striker, who won 29 caps for Wales, could help advise the County board on football decisions such as appointing Justin Edinburgh's successor as manager at Rodney Parade.

A club statement reads: "Newport County AFC can today announce that Nathan Blake will join the club as a new non-executive director with immediate effect.

"County will welcome the former Wales international to join the three new non-executives that recently joined the club.

"Nathan joins the club adding a wealth of football knowledge and experience, a former County youth player and senior player who has made over 450 appearances in the Football League and Premier League.

"Nathan also brings an abundance of international appearances representing Wales at U21s and Senior level.

"The appointment of Nathan will now see the board consist of eight representatives, with the new Board consisting of: Les Scadding (Chairman), Howard Greenhaf (Director), Jackie Tutton (Financial Director), Tony Pring (Trust Representative), Nathan Blake (Non-Executive Director), Kevin Morris (Non-Executive Director), Duncan Jardine (Non-Executive Director), Chris Blight (Non-Executive Director).

"County hope to announce a further addition to the board later on this afternoon."