NEWPORT County AFC have signed up three scholars from the Academy on professional contracts.

Lewis Bamford, Dafydd Jones and Ben Jones, the younger brother of first team defender Darren Jones, have all accepted the offer of a six-month pro deal.

The news follows the progression of Liam Angel to the first team squad after signing a professional contract in February.

Academy manager Byron Anthony told the club website: "It is always nice when players progress through the academy to become professionals.

"The three players in question have done extremely well over the past two years and they have earned the right to become pros and show what they can do at the next level.

"For the academy it is great to see players coming through the system and it's great for the younger players as they can see that there are opportunities here for players to progress.

"Dafydd Jones has impressed in a number of games this year, he's got a silky left-foot which I'm sure we will see out on the pitch at Rodney Parade in the near future.

"Lewis Bamford is a hard-working midfielder, who likes to get box-to-box and do the nitty-gritty bits in the heart of midfield.

"Ben Jones has come a long way since he has come to us.

“Ben is a Newport boy and he is a physical defender, who is very good in one-on-one situations."

Manager Warren Feeney said: "I'm big into bringing younger players through into the first-team.

"Attitude is a massive part of the progression for a young player.

“If you look at the players who have come through the youth setup here, like Aaron Collins and Regan Poole, those players have set the benchmark for the younger players.

"It's a big opportunity for three that have signed and I want them to go and express themselves."

Below is the full list of players retained by the academy for the 2016/17 season:

  • Lewis Bamford – retained pro
  • Andrew Evans – retained scholar
  • Ben Jones – retained pro
  • Dafydd Jones – retained pro
  • Rhys Kavanagh – retained scholar
  • Dion Molyneux – retained scholar
  • Cairan Smith – retained scholar
  • Kyron Tolland – retained scholar
  • Finlay Wood – retained scholar
  • Jake Young – retained scholar

They will join the new intake of scholars who have agreed to join the club: Jay Williams, Joe Hunt, Joshua Williams, Liam Warman, Michael Cook, Momodou Touray, Rhys Davies, Tom Savigar.

The following players have been released by the Exiles: Nyall Gray, Connah Hughes, Samuel James, Nathan Mathias, Cedrick Mpadi, Corey Shephard, Harry Waterhouse and Ellis Redman.

A statement said: “The club would like to thank them all for their efforts during their time with us and wish them all the best for their future within the game.”