Newtown re-sign former Football League defender from Grimsby Town
Newtown, Wales 13 March 2021. JD Cymru Premier Match between Newtown AFC and Cardiff Metropolitan University. © Will Cheshire
Newtown have started their January transfer business by re-signing hometown defender Ryan Sears.
He has put pen-to-paper on a deal which will keep him at the club for the next 18 months.
Sears joins from National League outfit Grimsby Town, where he played for the first part of the season.
The 23-year-old defender joined the Mariners in the summer but was limited to just eight appearances and hadn’t played since October.
It was announced earlier today that the Grimsby would be cancelling his contract, paving the way for him to rejoin the Robins.
In their parting message, the Mariners said on their official club website: “We would like to thank Ryan for his efforts whilst at the club and wish him all the best in the future.”
Sears returns to his hometown club after making 31 apps for the Robins during a loan spell from Shrewsbury Town back in the 2017/18 season.
He began his professional career with the Shrews and was handed his first professional contract with Paul Hurst, who later signed him for Grimsby.
After appearing in all but one Cymru Premier match in 2018, he returned back to the New meadow.
He would go on to make five appearances in League One the year he returned, but suffered a cruel anterior cruciate ligament injury during his breakthrough.
The right-back was sent out on loan to AFC Telford United for one match before COVID-19 truncated the season.
A further five appearances would follow under new boss Steve Cotterill last season but that was mainly as a substitute.
He was not kept on and was released in the summer along with former Shrewsbury academy winger Lifumpa Mwandwe.
His arrival at the Mid Wales club helps strengthen their push for a Europa Conference League spot.
Chris Hughes’ side are currently second in the Cymru Premier with five games of Phase One left.
The season is currently on pause after clubs voted to postpone games until fans are allowed to attend matches as a result of a Welsh Government ban.
Newtown were reportedly one of the clubs who voted for the season to resume behind closed doors as per the preference of their chairman Howard Ellis.
