Christian Fuchs walked away from Newport County because he felt “he didn’t have a lot to give”, says chairman Huw Jenkins.
The former Austria defender resigned as manager of the Exiles on 27 June after just seven months in charge of the League Two club.
Fuchs himself has yet to explain his reasons for his departure, which came less than two months after he helped keep them in the Football League on the final day of last season.
But, in a wide-ranging interview with BBC Sport Wales, Jenkins said he was both “surprised” and “disappointed” at the former Leicester City defender’s decision.
“Christian gave us his view that he wanted to step down, and I couldn’t change his mind,” said Jenkins, who’s now looking for his fourth boss in just over two years.
“He didn’t elaborate much to me, he just felt that, at this point in time, he didn’t have a lot to give us going forward.
“He felt last season in particular, those last few months, took a lot out of him.”
Jenkins said Fuchs, who lives in the north of England, had “many other things going on in his life”.
“He felt he wasn’t ready for the challenge ahead this season and that was it. It was more or less that,” added Jenkins.
“It’s an awkward one, really. He’s got his own views on why he wanted to step down, and you’ll have to speak to him, really, to get any more detail on that.”
Fuchs has so far not responded to BBC Sport Wales’ request to explain his reasons for resigning, but Jenkins says Newport have to quickly move on now that the players are back in training for the 2026-27 campaign.
“As far as I was concerned, Christian made his feelings quite clear to me that he wasn’t in a position to carry on with us at Newport County, and I’m afraid when people do tell you those things you’ve just got to take it on the chin and move on,” said Jenkins.
“Driving home from meeting him last Saturday, from having a meal with him, my only thoughts at that time were ‘What do I do now?, ‘What are we going to do next?’
“We didn’t expect to be in this position. We didn’t want to be in this position.
“We’ve got to find the next [manager], as always. Fingers crossed we can find the right one in the next few weeks and get our season moving in the right direction.”
EFL opener the deadline for a new boss
Fuchs’ departure means Jenkins is looking for a new manager for the third successive summer, having appointed former Manchester United academy coach David Hughes in 2025 and Portuguese coach Nelson Jardim in 2024.
Jenkins says he would like to have a new manager in place by the time County start their new League Two campaign on 15 August.
In the meantime, former County defender Chris Todd, who joined the coaching staff at Rodney Parade in March, is overseeing the start of pre-season training having been placed in temporary charge following Fuchs’ exit.
“Chris has got an opportunity to settle into the role and do what he can, but I knew full well what he could give us anyway,” said Jenkins.
“Obviously what happens next depends on who else is in the market.
“After putting the statement out about Christian leaving us, I had 50 or 60 names [interested in the manager’s job] very, very quickly.
“Most of them you can discount within two minutes, and then you look through what may be right for us and it takes a bit longer obviously to whittle that down.”
Former Newport boss James Rowberry and former County midfielder Andrew Crofts – both part of Craig Bellamy’s coaching staff with Wales – are among those who have been linked with the role.
Some fans want former Wales boss Mark Hughes, who left his post as Carlisle boss in May, while former Bolton and West Ham striker Kevin Nolan has also been mentioned as a possible contender.
“Two or three of those were news to me – they weren’t on the initial list,” said Jenkins.
“Lots of names get circulated and bandied about, but we can’t forget where we were last year and where we are as a club at this point in time.”
The former Swansea City chairman says he must ensure whoever he appoints is the right fit for Newport.
“Do we get on the bandwagon of just taking on managers that move from club to club and get sacked week-in, week-out?” added Jenkins.
“I need to do better than that, to make sure we make good choices.
“I think it’s important things are clarified before the season starts.
“But I’d love it to be before that, so everybody’s fully set and behind the manager moving forward, whoever it is…I think the timescales are as simple as that.”
