Penybont plotting ambitious swoop for Ash Baker after Newport release
A general view of Bryntirion Park during the warm up Penybont v Haverfordwest County at Bryntirion Park in the JD Cymru Premier on the 2nd April 2021. Lewis Mitchell/Penybont FC
Cymru Premier outfit Penybont are lining up an ambitious move for former Sheffield Wednesday defender Ash Baker, Y Clwb Pel Droed understands.
The 24-year-old has become a free agent after being let go by League Two side Newport County earlier this month.
He spent 15 months at Rodney Parade after making the switch to the Exiles from Championship side Wednesday in January 2020.
The right-back made four appearances in the 2019/20 season – after sustaining an injury – before the campaign was cut short due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Baker scored his first senior goal against Leyton Orient in the FA Cup last season and made a further seven appearances for County, but his departure was confirmed in the Exiles’ retained list.
And Y Clwb Pel Droed understands Bont now want to bring the defender, who was born in Bridgend, back to the SDM Glass Stadium.
Baker began his youth career with Bryntirion Athletic prior to their merger with Bridgend Town, which saw the formation of Penybont eight years ago.
Baker then spent time in Cardiff City’s academy but failed to make a first-team appearance before his move to Hillsborough in 2018.
His spell with Wednesday brought more joy as he featured 12 times in the Championship before his move down to the fourth tier with Newport.
Penybont manager Rhys Griffiths guided the Bridgend side to the European Conference play-off semi-final last season, but is set for a busy summer after a clutch of players recently departed.
Ian Traylor, Matthew Harris, Ismail Yakubu, Connor Davies and long-standing servant Ioan Emanuel have all been shown the exit door by the Cymru Premier outfit.
And Griffiths will be looking to add reinforcements to his squad as Bont gear up for their third successive campaign in the top flight, with Baker, who, despite being an ambitious target, among those on his radar.
It could see Baker follow in the footsteps of former Wimbledon striker Adam Roscrow and Wales’ Euro 2016 hero Dave Edwards, who both swapped the Football League for the Welsh top flight.
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