Portuguese-born Jardim has been confirmed as the club’s head coach, having initially joined the Exiles as a “lead coach” earlier this month.
When Jardim originally joined the coaching staff, Newport said they would “continue its search for a new head coach” following the departure of former boss Graham Coughlan in June.
But Newport chairman Huw Jenkins has now told the club website: “One or two matters needed to be discussed and agreed during the last few weeks before this announcement could be confirmed.
“Leaving his young family in Madeira (Portugal) to move to Newport and take up this challenge was a big decision for him to make. The club also needed written confirmation of Nelson’s settled status in the UK, which we have now received.”
Jardim has already taken charge of pre-season preparations at the League Two club and a 4-1 victory in the traditonal opening friendly at local side Undy.
“Nelson has made a big impact at Newport County over recent weeks, not only with the staff and players, but he has also been instrumental in helping to bring a strong, positive feel around the club,” added Jenkins.
“Hopefully today’s update will allow everyone connected to the club from the staff, players and supporters to fully focus on the exciting new season ahead.’’
Former Swansea chairman Jenkins knows Jardim well from his time in west Wales. Jardim initially joined the Swans as a coach in 2009 under manager Paulo Sousa, before following the former Champions League winner to Leicester City a year later.
Jardim was assistant manager at LigaPro side Nacional before heading back to Swansea in 2017 as a lead Academy coach. He later served as a first-team coach under Francesco Guidolin, Paul Clement and Carlos Carvahal.
Following his departure from the Swans in 2020, Jardim was part of Aitor Karanka’s coaching set-up at Birmingham City and then returned home to Portugal to manage Maritimo B.
At Newport, Jardim’s backroom team includes assistant head coach Dafydd Williams, goalkeeping coach Jim Hollman, head of performance Scott Wickens (strength and conditioning) and head analyst Connor McGaharan. Club legends David Pipe and Mark O’Brien will also remain part of the first team set-up.
Newport have also appointed Triston Jenkins as a new head physiotherapist. He will oversee the club’s medical department following extensive experience in the NHS, Swansea City Academy, Haverfordwest County and the Welsh Rugby Union.
Newport continue their pre-season build-up with a Tuesday night friendly at Pontypridd United.
Bradford City new boy loved Austria camp despite long days
Bantams defender Neill Byrne is still recovering from a gruelling week in Austria, but he trusts that his new manager Graham Alexander is spot on about the players feeling the benefit by the time their League Two campaign kicks off at MK Dons next month.
Speaking to the T&A the day after the squad flew home from their summer training camp in Obertraun, Byrne said: “It was tough out in Austria but we hope it will stand us in good stead.
“The whole pre-season has been tough, but the gaffer has reiterated that he wants us to feel fatigued going into games now, because then we’ll feel fitter and stronger once we reach the start of the season.
“He’s done it all before, so he knows everything he’s talking about.
“We were up at six most mornings and not finishing till six on the evenings in Austria, but it was good to get to know the lads a lot more.
“You’re in an environment where you’re with each other 24/7, so that was another good side to it as well as the physical stuff.”
Expanding on that, he said: “100 per cent it’s better doing this than just playing friendlies in England.
“You get to know the lads, because you’re sitting with different ones on the plane and at dinner.
“It’s a great environment to get to know each other and it beds you in as a new lad.
“You get to know your team-mates and they get to know you, and you start to understand each other more.
“It’s good to build those relationships off the field because the hope is they’ll then come to fruition on the pitch.”
City won a hard-fought friendly against third-tier Austrian side SV Ried II during the camp, with Byrne reflecting: “Every outing in pre-season is good because you can learn new things and you can practice all the stuff you’ve been working on, in attack and defence.
“It was a tough game to have after the intense week we’d had, but I thought it went well for us.
“It’s a win too, but like I always say, you might not win any games in pre-season, then win your first couple of competitive ones.
“Winning every friendly means nothing because the season itself is a different animal.
“Not that I’d ever approach those pre-season matches in the wrong way, but they’ll always have different outcomes, players will be getting substituted all the time, so it is a bit different.
“Everything’s geared towards the first game of the season, that’s the most important one.”
That being said, Byrne accepts that City’s home friendly against Sunderland next Tuesday is probably of greater importance than the pre-Austria clashes against Chorley and Guiseley.
The centre back said: “The Chorley game was our first of pre-season, so we were all new to each other and it was a new way of playing for some of us.
“You’re still getting to know the lads at that stage, where towards the end of pre-season you’ll start to put more importance on the games.
“By this point you want to start putting the performances in and see that coming out in the game, that’s more important than the result.
“We completely understand fans want to win games but I’m sure they’ll be happy if we start the season really well, and the Chorley defeat will be forgotten about straight away.”
