Newport County's new manager is poised to make a one-off return to Jenner Park later this month in the run-up to the new season.
David Hughes' Exiles will visit Barry Town United in a friendly on Friday 25th July - the last warm-up fixture for the hosts before their campaign kicks off with the Nathaniel MG Cup.
The former Shrewsbury Town and Cardiff City defender made his first steps into management in 2003, when he took charge at Barry Town at the start of a turbulent period for the club.
Hughes stepped aside the following year and became right-hand man to Colin Addison - but he ended up back in the hotseat when Addison was sacked on the eve of the 2004-5 season by controversial owner Stuart Lovering.
Hughes stayed on until December when he resigned, along with most of the first team squad, over financial issues.
But he continued to develop his coaching career with the likes of Cardiff City, Aston Villa and Southampton before joining Manchester United as a professional development coach from 2022 until he was appointed as County's new boss in May.
Hughes' backroom staff at Rodney Parade includes another familiar face at Barry, Lee Kendall.
The former goalkeeper returned to Jenner Park in November 2022 to succeed Gavin Chesterfield as manager, going onto lead the club back into the Welsh top flight by winning the Cymru South title and the Welsh Blood Service Cup.
Kendall suprisingly resigned as manager on the eve of the 2023-24 season, despite signing a two-year contract to stay at Jenner Park.
Most recently, he was an assistant - and caretaker - boss at Bath City, before being recruited by County in May as their new head of goalkeeping.
Barry have modified their pre-season fixture list - cancelling their away fixture at Yate Town on 26th July while preparing to welcome Cardiff City's under 21s on Saturday 12th July.
Inicidentally, when Barry last played the County in a pre-season friendly a year ago, the hosts ran 2-1 winners in what was Nelson Jardim's first game as Exiles boss. He left the club the following April despite securing their EFL status.
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