Newport’s David Hughes: ‘To win games of football, you’ve got to suffer’

David Hughes, the 47-year-old manager of Newport County, has a wealth of experience, having spent the last three years at Manchester United's academy as a development-phase coach. Prior to that, he worked at clubs like Aston Villa, Cardiff, and Southampton, where he also played. Despite the stark contrast between managing a global institution like Manchester United and a smaller club like Newport County, Hughes is undaunted. He acknowledges that Newport has a much smaller budget and staff compared to United's academy, but he sees this as an opportunity to foster a tight-knit team where everyone is willing to "muck in" and work together. Hughes believes that there are no shortcuts to success in football, and that teams must be willing to "suffer" in order to win games. His approach emphasizes the importance of hard work, dedication, and a collaborative team effort, regardless of the resources available.