Baldwin is sure Notts boss Luke will make his mark
NEW Notts County defender Aden Baldwin has spoken highly of head coach Luke Williams and his playing style after becoming the Magpies fourth summer signing.
The centre-back will join after being released by League One side MK Dons, teaming up with Magpies head coach Williams again after they worked together at Bristol City and then at Stadium MK under Russell Martin.
Baldwin skippered the Robins’ Under-23s with Williams in charge after signing from Forest Green Rovers.
He will officially join the club on July 1 and will participate in the Magpies’ pre-season, with fixtures against Basford United, Leicester City and Boston United lined up.
The 25-year-old joins Tobi Adebayo-rowling, Macaulay Langstaff and Cedwyn Scott through the door at Meadow Lane this summer. The reconstruction of the Notts squad is well underway following Ian Burchnall’s departure to Forest Green ahead of the National League season that gets underway on August 6.
After joining the club, Baldwin, who rejected offers from EFL clubs to join the National League, discussed the prospect of working with Williams again. He said: “It’s a great feeling, knowing Luke well from our previous clubs.
“You’ll see his style of play straightaway - we’ll be a team who wants to do our work with the ball and work extremely hard off it.
“He’ll bring a certain culture to the team and, as players, if we buy into his style and values I’ve no doubt we’ll be successful.”
Up to now in his career Baldwin has struggled to establish himself in a team, with injuries hindering his spell at MK Dons last season and he also time spent time on the sidelines while at Ashton Gate.
“At MK Dons I feel I took every opportunity I was given but sometimes in football it just doesn’t happen for you,” he told the Magpies official website.
“This is a great chance for me to get a really strong season under my belt and what better place to do it than Notts County - a big club with a great following, which was another persuasive factor in me coming here.
“I feel really comfortable playing with the ball and can operate in different roles to suit whatever formation the gaffer chooses.”
Baldwin’s signature fills the hole left by Alex Lacey after it was confirmed by the club that he would be leaving alongside Dion Kelly-evans and Tyreace Palmer.
Richard Brindley, Adam Chicksen and Tiernan Brooks have all signed new deals at the club, while Kyle Wootton left for League Two newcomers Stockport County. Elisha Sam has also departed.