After an incredible 20 months with Newport County, Joe Dunne has bid farewell to the club following the departure of manager Graham Coughlan. Coughlan, who is Irish, left the League Two club on Thursday, with chairman Huw Jenkins stating that he wanted to take the Exiles in a new direction. Dunne was brought in by Coughlan when he became the manager of Newport in October 2022.
Dunne’s departure was not unexpected given Coughlan’s exit. The club thanked Dunne for his hard work and dedication during his time at Newport and wished him all the best on his future endeavors. Dunne, who is 51 years old, has extensive experience in the lower divisions of the Football League both as a player and in managerial roles. Before joining Coughlan as his assistant, Dunne had managerial and assistant roles at clubs like Colchester, Cambridge United, Bristol Rovers, Mansfield Town, and Stevenage.
Newport is currently searching for a replacement for Coughlan, with an emphasis on hiring a head coach. The squad is set to return to pre-season training on July 1st, and a number of new recruits are expected to join the team in the coming week. Additionally, Newport has been drawn into Group H for the 2024-25 Bristol Street Motors Trophy competition alongside teams like Cheltenham Town and Reading as well as a Premier League academy team from the southern section.
The under-21 sides will include some of England’s biggest clubs like Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton