MANAGER Terry Butcher is putting his money where his mouth is by joining the Newport County AFC Supporters Trust as they aim to complete their takeover of the club.

Butcher will be at the Trust’s share offer launch at Newport’s Riverfront Theatre on Thursday night from 7pm and says he will sign up and make a contribution to safeguarding the future of the club.

The Exiles boss is fully behind the Trust takeover and believes it could be the first step in emulating the success story enjoyed by near neighbours Swansea City, who are part-owned by their fans.

“I will be there on Thursday and I’m not a member yet but it’s something I’ve been looking at,” said Butcher.

“When I was at Rangers as a player I bought shares in the club and became a shareholder and I think it’s very appropriate to do that now.

“I’ll be putting my money in and I want to back it because I want to have success with this club.

“We want to be a successful club and to do that we have to show that we are together as one club.

“It’s one and all – everybody – the fans, the players, the directors, the staff, everyone.”

He added: “There’s not three points at stake on Thursday but it could be survival at stake more than anything else – something that has a far more dramatic effect than winning a football match.

“It is hugely significant and hopefully there will be a good response from the fans.

“They’ve been tremendous in their support for us at Rodney Parade and if we can harness that passion then we can make this a strong club.

“But you’ve got to take the first steps and one of those is this Thursday.

“It’s exciting because it’s a restart. It’s not as dramatic as the previous restart in 1989 but it’s every bit as important.”

Butcher says the success of the Swans and other clubs such as Exeter City and Wycombe Wanderers shows that the fan-owned model can work.

“Supporters Direct have got a good proven track record and it has been done before, it’ll be done again and hopefully it can be done well here too,” he said.

“It’s a huge fresh start on the pitch for us but it’s an even bigger new start off the pitch with the share issue launch.

“We can start moving forward as a Supporters Trust-based club then.

“And as soon as we move forward with everyone behind us, with a bit of luck, we can emulate Swansea or go some way to going on the journey that they have embarked on.

“That’s a great role model for us and the fact that it’s only an hour down the road is an inspiration to get it done and get it done right.”