County hoping Pask will stay at club

NEWPORT County are set to make an offer to add central defender Josh Pask to the club’s ranks on a permanent deal when his loan from Coventry expires.

The 24-year-old arrived from the Sky Blues in January and has made nine appearances after being limited because of knee and hamstring injuries.

However, the pacy defender has showed his class when in the team and County are keen to sign him up for next season.

Pask is out of contract at the Sky Blues this summer and is set for the exit door, with manager James Rowberry looking to keep him at Rodney Parade.

“I would be fool to say no, of course [I’d like to sign him],” said the boss. “He is out of contract at Coventry so we will have to see where he is at.

“I’ve not talked to him yet because he has only just come back from injury but Darren [Kelly, sporting director will be in negotiations with his agent. It’s one of a few [contract negotiations] that we have got to do.”

Pask returned to the XI in the 2-1 defeat to Colchester after being an unused substitute for two games on his return from injury.

The central defender played a key role in Dom Telford’s opener when he came out of defence and found Finn Azaz in space on the edge of the area.

“I thought Josh came in and was excellent with his performance,” said Rowberry. “With his interceptions, his pace and ability to play passes, he was terrific at times.”

Former Wales international Mark Aizlewood has returned to the hotseat of JD Cymru South side Carmarthen Town.

Aizlewood represented Cardiff City, Leeds United and Bristol City during his playing days, and also earned 39 caps for Wales. But his coaching career has seen him become part of the furniture at Camarthen, and he is now set to succeed Sean Cresser, who’s chosen to leave the club after a recent change in the managerial structure.

It’s the first managerial role Aizlewood has taken since he was released from prison last year, although he was already on the books at Carmarthen having joined Cresser’s coaching staff last summer. He will now take charge of the club’s final game of the season against Pontypridd Town on Saturday.

The 62-year-old, along with fellow former footballer Paul Sugrue, was jailed for his role in a £5m sports leadership scam back in 2018.

Aizlewood is still highly revered at Richmond Park, having spent six years as manager of the club during a successful first spell shortly before his arrest.