NEWPORT County AFC interim director Jon Bowkett has moved to clarify comments attributed to him in Saturday’s match programme about Newport City Council taking control of Rodney Parade, writes Andrew Penman.

In an interview in the Business Club section of the official match day programme, Bowkett was asked: “What are your thoughts on playing at Rodney Parade and how do you think the RP experience can be improved?”

Bowkett’s reply, as printed in the programme, was: “RP undoubtedly is the future of our football club particularly as it is a city centre venue for the people of Newport.

“We aren’t particularly satisfied with our landlord at present but hopefully that will change for the better in the near future.”

He continued: “When Newport City Council take over we will no longer be the poor relations and I believe our club will prosper and progress to a higher level.”

The stadium, where County have been tenants since 2012, is operated by Rodney Parade Limited – a company wholly owned by Newport Rugby Football Club.

Sources at Rodney Parade Limited and Newport City Council said there had been no discussions about this matter.

And, when contacted by the Argus, Bowkett said there had been a printing error in the programme.

Bowkett, who stresses that he was speaking as a fan rather than a director in the article, explained: “There was a section of my answer that was missed out in the programme.

“I was speaking hypothetically and suggested that if Newport City Council could follow the Swansea City model and possibly take over and help develop Rodney Parade I believe our club will prosper and progress to a higher level.

“There have been no discussions about this and it was purely hypothetical.”

Bowkett says he did not describe County as the “poor relations” but he stands by his statement that, as a fan, he is not satisfied with Rodney Parade Limited as a landlord.

“We don’t want to upset our landlord and there are lots of positives and negatives,” he said.

“But I think the relationship could be better and as a club we have to work with Rodney Parade to make it better and make the fans’ experience better.”