NEWTOWN have lost out to Welsh Premier rivals Prestatyn Town who swooped for top scorer Ross Stephens this week.
The 25-year-old midfielder rose to prominence last season with 11 goals from 33 appearances to see him end as top scorer, having signed at the start of the season from Aberystwyth Town.
Meanwhile Craig Williams transfer to the coast looks all but complete with the 22-year-old’s switch to Aberystwyth Town now finalised.
Stephens returns to the North Wales coast, with a brief stint at Rhyl in 2007 sandwiched by spells at Caersws and Technogroup Welshpool before spells at Aberystwyth Town and Newtown.
The departure of the former Shrewsbury Town and Wales under 20 international is a blow to the Latham Park club who were only confirmed as Welsh Premier members two weeks ago.
Club secretary Owen Durbridge Newtown secretary Owen Durbidge was disappointed to lose both players but insisted the club would not live beyond their means this summer.
“If players want to go then they’ll go,” said Durbridge. “We have increased our playing budget this season but we have absolutely no intention of spending money we have not got like some clubs have done to their peril.
“It is upsetting to lose Craig who is a product of our youth system,” added Durbridge. “Although Aberystwyth Town have had a good season I believe there is absolutely nothing between the sides.”
Meanwhile Durbridge insisted manager Darren Ryan would receive the full backing of the club board in the transfer market while also pressing ahead with blooding local talent into the first team.
“We need strengthening and the players who have left will obviously need replacing and we will back Darren to the hilt this summer.”
Ryan said: ““It is a massive blow to lose both players. Both were quality and I cannot speak highly enough of them.”