Manager reveals transfer talks with Cardiff City, Newport County & Swansea City
Steve Jenkins (Barry Town United Manager). Credit: Perry Dobbins.
Barry Town United manager Steve Jenkins admits he is open to transfer talks with Cardiff City, Newport County, and Swansea City about potentially signing their players.
The 51-year-old had a respectable playing career and played for three of the four Welsh professional teams who play in the English Football League. Jenkins mainly played for Swansea City and made 165 league appearances across five years, but also had a short stint at Cardiff City, before winding down his career with Newport from 2006 to 2009.
He was most recently the manager of Cardiff’s U-18 side and could look to them amongst other teams to help bolster his team. His appointment earlier this month has seen him arrive late, and already some players have gone out on loan, but over the last week has worked hard to source potential reinforcements.
“Yeah, of course,” said Jenkins in an interview with Sgorio when asked if he would use his contacts at his former clubs.
“Obviously, I’ve got the contacts there but it’s not easy. It’s difficult as well. So late in the day.
“A lot of players are fixed up now. That’s probably been the biggest part of my job, the last week, is making phone calls.”
A total of six players have made the move to Jenner Park this season, though all were signed under the previous management team.
Sam Snaith returned to the club from Penybont, meanwhile, Ollie Hulbert and Lucas Tomlinson have both joined after spells in England. Goalkeeper Luc Rees was one of the first to arrive from Kendall’s former club Fleetwood Town.
He added: “Hopefully now, the foundations that I’ve laid will sort of come to fruition, and we’ll be in a position where we can possibly get two or three players in but it hasn’t been easy.”
Jenkins has been in the role for just over a fortnight after succeeding Lee Kendall earlier this month. He took charge of his first game last week which was a 1-0 defeat to Bala Town, in which they conceded in stoppage time.
He will be on the lookout for reinforcements and will have to do without last season’s top goal scorer Kayne McLaggon, who is suspended after picking up two yellow cards.
