NEWPORT County have swooped to sign one of their former non-league tormentors, attacker Alex Rodman.

The England C international, 28, has most recently been battling for Conference promotion with Gateshead last term, and before that, Grimsby.

However, Rodman may well spring to mind for Exiles fans due to his history with the club, who he came very close to signing for in January 2011.

Rodman was at the time the stand-out performer for Tamworth, scoring a hat-trick against the Exiles in what proved to be Dean Holsworth’s last game in charge, on Wednesday, January 12, 2011.

The irony at the time was that Rodman had been linked with a move to County for several weeks, with Holdsworth on record as telling the Argus a deal for him was close.

However, Holdsworth departed and he took Rodman with him, joining the Hampshire outfit a fortnight later for an undisclosed fee. He scored five goals for the Shots in 14 games before a serious illness threatened his future, Rodman missing the rest of the campaign with a pulmonary embolism after tests showed blood clots in his lungs.

Following Aldershot’s relegation, Rodman has had subsequent spells with York City, Grimsby and latterly Gateshead, where he scored ten goals in 41 appearances this term.

Comfortable as either a winger or a second striker, Rodman has also represented England at Futsal.

The attacker also owns his own fashion line, running his brand ‘Pretty Boy’ with brother Charlie.

Rodman almost linked up with Butcher last summer, when he opted not to take up an appearance-related option in his contract.

He left Blundell Park and was set for a switch to Hibernian in Scotland, but the move fell through when Butcher was sacked by the Scottish outfit, meaning he ended up at Gateshead.

The Exiles are understood to be expecting more signing announcements in the coming days, as well as additions to their backroom staff.

The club are set to turn their attention to appointing a new head of youth development after announcing Jason Turner as their new general manager.

Interviews are expected to begin shortly, with ex-County midfielder Mike Flynn thought to be a front-runner for the position.