Jon Parkin: Once Graham Westley arrived I had to leave Newport County

“For me it couldn’t have been any worse. The training was stupidly ridiculous and he’d have us watching videos that could send a glass eye to sleep.”

Jon Parkin doesn’t pull any punches when explaining why he had to leave Newport County AFC in his new autobiography – Feed The Beast.

Newport is just one stop in a 19-year career that has seen the larger than life striker play for 14 different clubs.

And, even though he only played 11 games for County, it was an eventful few months at Rodney Parade.

Looking back this week, the 36-year-old told the Argus: “I was really enjoying it under Warren Feeney and I don’t think we were far off getting things right with him in charge.

“We didn’t have a great start and we were only losing games by a goal or two.

“But Warren was under pressure after a bad end to the previous season and obviously the board decided to change things.

“I think Warren could have turned things round and he was unlucky to be fired.”

Parkin scored four goals for the Exiles, including spectacular efforts against Hartlepool United and Plymouth Argyle, but he was never on the winning side.

And when Westley replaced Feeney in October 2016 he knew the writing was on the wall.

“As soon as Graham Westley was appointed I knew what to expect and in the end I only played two games for him,” he recalled.

“As a bloke I got on quite well with him but his training methods were no good for me at that stage of my career. I just couldn’t physically do it.

“I gave him the benefit of the doubt and gave it a go but after a while I knew it wasn’t for me.

“And with all the travelling I was doing to see my little boy Oliver up north I knew I needed to move on.

“I think if you sign for Westley knowing what he’s like then you can’t complain but if he came in and changed everything then you’ve got a problem. That wasn’t what I’d signed up for.”

In the book Parkin goes further, writing: “Westley’s first session almost killed me and it wasn’t just me – in the first fortnight we had eight muscle injuries.

“The physio who had been there prior to Westley’s arrival quit saying it was madness.”

After a bust-up with the boss over his recovery from a hamstring injury, Parkin agreed to join York City in November 2016 and he’s still there nearly two years on.

“Geographically the move to York was a no-brainer and even though we were relegated I’ve got no regrets because I’m back living near my boy,” he said.

“I was a little surprised that Newport managed to pull off such a miraculous escape that season because they were so far adrift but I also knew that there were good players there.

“I was delighted for them and I still follow the results. They’re doing really well at the moment so fingers crossed they can keep it going longer than they did last year.”

As for Parkin, he knows he’s not far away from hanging up his boots.

“I’ll be 37-and-a-half by the end of the season so we’ll see,” he said.

“I want to carry on playing as long as I can and as long as I still feel like I’m contributing. I don’t want to be a dead weight.

“I’ve enjoyed doing the book and I’m also doing a podcast called Undr the Cosh and lots of stuff on YouTube.

“But I’m doing my coaching badges as well and I’d like to have a crack at management if I’m still employable after some of the stories in the book!”

Jon Parkin: Feed The Beast, RRP £18.99, Sport Media, on sale now